Nurragingy Reserve

Nurragingy Reserve

Location of Nurragingy Reserve

Type Garden, urban park, wildlife park, nature reserve
Location Doonside, New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Coordinates 33°44′55″S 150°51′44″E / 33.748614°S 150.862342°E / -33.748614; 150.862342Coordinates: 33°44′55″S 150°51′44″E / 33.748614°S 150.862342°E / -33.748614; 150.862342
Area 90 hectares (222.39 acres)
Opened 1981
Owned by Western Sydney Parklands Trust
Operated by Blacktown City Council
Status Open all year
Entrance Knox Road, Doonside NSW 2767
Website Blacktown Council

The Nurragingy Reserve is an open urban park and nature reserve located in Doonside and Rooty Hill, New South Wales, Australia.[1][2][3]

History

Bungarribee Pavilion in the Nurragingy Nature Reserve
Bungarribee Pavilion in the Nurragingy Nature Reserve

The name "Nurragingy" commemorates one of the two aborigines of the Dharruk (Dharug, Daruk) tribe who received the first land grant to natives from Governor Lachlan Macquarie in 1819. The other title holder was Colebee, whose name has been given to the Centre within the Reserve. A painting by local Aboriginal artist Danny Eastwood, depicting this land grant hangs inside the Colebee Centre.

Prior to the 1970s the land was part of the Cumberland Timber Forest which was a supplier of commercial timber. In the 1970s the land was purchased by the New South Wales state government with the intention of turning it into a green belt for Western Sydney which was facing rapid expansion.

In 1981 the state government allowed a portion of the land to be used as a recreational area. [4]

Wildlife

The surrounding vegetation contains a number a vulnerable and regionally specific species such as Shale-Gravel Transition Forest, Alluvial Woodland and Shale Plain Woodland as a part of a Grey Box and Forest Red Gum woodland. Cabbage Gum's, Casuarina glauca and Melaeuca spp. are present in the creeks and ponds.The shrub layer includes Bursaria spinosa, Acacia decurrens and Dillwynia juniperina. The reserve is home to many herbs and grasses as well as wetland species around the creek and streambanks. [5]

Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens

On 14 October 2003, Liaocheng municipality (Located in China) and Blacktown City council signed a sister city agreement. In May 2011, in order to foster ties of friendship and economic partnership the two municipalities signed a memorandum of understanding relating to the construction of an authentic Chinese garden at Nurragingy Reserve. It was officially opened in August 2012. [6] The name of the park is derived from a portmanteau of Dongchang (The former name of the Chinese municipality) and the Chinese translation of Blacktown (Bu Lai Ke Cheng). [7]

The garden is styled with elements from both the Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty and includes a Gateway, Seven Arch Stone Bridge, Light Mountain Pavilion and a Waterfall Gazebo. [8]

Gallery

Nurragingy Reserve
Colbee Center in Nurragingy 
Nurragingy Waterfall 
Nurragingy New Zealand Garden 
Nurragingy Reserve

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nurragingy - History". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  2. ↑ "Nurragingy Reserve". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  3. ↑ http://www.landscapesolutions.com.au/chineseGardens.html
  4. ↑ "Nurragingy Reserve - History". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  5. ↑ "Nurragingy Reserve - Wildlife". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  6. ↑ "Liangcheng Sister City". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  7. ↑ "Liangcheng Chinese Gardens". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
  8. ↑ "Liangcheng Chinese Gardens Attractions". Blacktown City Council. Retrieved 2015-06-09.
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