Protected areas of Victoria

Victoria is the smallest mainland state in Australia. As of 2022 it contained 5,081 separate protected areas with a total land area of 4,012,888 ha (9,916,060 acres) (17.64% of the state's area).[1]

The parks are managed by Parks Victoria, a state government agency. There are also many smaller state areas which are subject to commercial activity such as logging.

National parks of Victoria State parks of Victoria Marine national parks of Victoria Marine and coastal parks of Victoria Marine sanctuaries of Victoria Other parks of Victoria

Main parks

National parks

National parks provide the highest level of protection to diverse natural areas. They usually contain the best and most unique examples of our natural values and biodiversity. There are 45 national parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 2,910,738 ha (7,192,590 acres) (72.53% of the state's protected areas).[1]

National parks of Victoria
National parks of Victoria
Order National park name Area[1] Declared
as a national park[1]		 Notes
ha acre
1Alfred3,0227,47023 December 1925[3]
2Alpine662,3541,636,7102 December 1989[3]Includes the former Tingaringy NP, Wabonga Plateau SP, Bogong NP, Wonnangatta–Moroka NP, Cobberas–Tingaringy NP
3Barmah28,49070,40027 June 2010Proclaimed in 1987 (as Barmah State Park)
4Baw Baw12,78431,59026 April 1979
5Brisbane Ranges8,88121,9501 December 1975
6Budj Bim8,57121,1807 June 1960Formerly known as Mount Eccles National Park. UNESCO World Heritage listing from 2019
7Burrowa - Pine Mountain18,96546,86016 May 1978
8Chiltern-Mt Pilot21,66553,54030 October 2002[3]Proclaimed in 1980 (as Chiltern State Park);
and in 1997 (as Chiltern Box–Ironbark National Park)
9Churchill27267012 February 1941Formerly known as Dandenong National Park (1941-1944)
10Cobboboonee18,55345,85011 November 2008
11Coopracambra38,51395,1701988[3]Proclaimed in 1979 (as Coopracambra State Park)
12Croajingolong88,516218,73026 April 1979[3]Includes the former Wingan Inlet NP, Mallacoota Inlet NP, Captain James Cook NP
13Dandenong Ranges3,5348,73013 December 1987[3]Proclaimed in 1928 (as Ferntree Gully National Park)
14Errinundra43,144106,61021 June 1988
15French Island10,31825,50021 June 1988Proclaimed in 1984 (as French Island State Park)
16Grampians168,277415,82018 December 1984
17Great Otway110,412272,83011 December 2005Includes the former Melba Gully SP, Otway NP, Angahook–Lorne SP, Carlisle SP
18Greater Bendigo17,57543,43030 October 2002[3]Includes the former Whipstick SP, Kamarooka SP
19Gunbower9,31723,02027 June 2010
20Hattah - Kulkyne49,983123,51026 April 1980[3]Proclaimed in 1960 (as Hattah Lakes National Park)
21Heathcote-Graytown12,69331,37030 October 2002
22Kara Kara13,98234,55030 October 2002[3]Proclaimed in 1984 (as Kara Kara State Park);
Formerly known as St Arnaud Range National Park (2002-2012)
23Kinglake23,12657,1507 March 1928
24Lake Eildon27,82268,7504 June 1997[3]Includes the former Fraser NP, Eildon SP
25Lind1,3703,4001926[3][4]
26Little Desert131,607325,21010 December 1968
27Lower Glenelg26,45165,36016 December 1969
28Lower Goulburn9,32123,03027 June 2010
29Mitchell River14,40235,59017 June 1986[3]Proclaimed in 1963 (as Glenaladale National Park)
30Mornington Peninsula2,6826,6301988[3]Includes the former Cape Schanck Coastal Park, and part of Nepean SP;
Formerly known as Point Nepean National Park (1988-1995)
31Morwell5651,40029 November 1966
32Mount Buffalo27,48467,9101898[3]
33Mount Richmond1,7384,2907 June 1960
34Murray - Sunset665,6941,644,9705 June 1991[3]Proclaimed in 1979 (as Pink Lakes State Park)
35Organ Pipes15338014 December 1971
36Point Nepean5401,30017 August 2005
37Port Campbell2,4296,0009 December 1964
38Snowy River114,729283,50026 April 1979
39Tarra-Bulga2,0285,01017 June 1986[3]Includes the former Tarra Valley NP, Bulga NP
40Terrick Terrick6,38815,79015 April 1999[3]Proclaimed in 1988 (as Terrick Terrick State Park)
41The Lakes2,4075,95030 October 1956
42Warby-Ovens14,70836,34027 June 2010Proclaimed in 1975 (as Warby Range State Park)
43Wilsons Promontory48,202119,1108 July 1898[3]
44Wyperfeld359,855889,22020 October 1909
45Yarra Ranges77,229190,84015 December 1995

State parks

State parks help protect the state's natural values. They are very similar to national parks, however, the conservation values and landscapes they protect are smaller or less diverse. There are 26 state parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 158,043 ha (390,530 acres) (3.94% of the state's protected areas).[1]

State parks of Victoria
State parks of Victoria
Order State park name Area[1] Declared
as a state park[1]		 Notes
ha acre
1Arthurs Seat5661,40016 May 1978Includes part of the former Nepean State Park
2Black Range11,73128,99021 June 1988
3Broken-Boosey1,0102,50030 October 2002
4Bunyip16,64741,14023 September 1992
5Cape Nelson22957026 April 1979
6Cathedral Range3,5998,89026 April 1979
7Dergholm10,88626,90023 September 1992
8Enfield4,32310,6803 August 1995
9Holey Plains10,74626,55016 May 1978
10Kooyoora11,45528,31018 December 1984
11Lake Tyers8,68421,46019 June 1984
12Langi Ghiran3,0437,5208 December 1984
13Leaghur2,0455,05023 September 1992
14Lerderderg20,54550,77021 June 1988
15Moondarra6,36215,72018 December 1984
16Mount Arapiles-Tooan7,45718,43017 December 1987
17Mount Buangor2,4996,18027 October 1989
18Mount Granya6,16415,2303 August 1995
19Mount Lawson13,36633,03021 June 1988
20Mount Napier2,9397,26024 June 1987
21Mount Samaria7,44518,40026 April 1979
22Mount Worth1,0322,55016 May 1978
23Paddys Ranges2,0154,98027 October 1989
24Reef Hills2,0054,9502 May 1986
25Warrandyte6871,7001 December 1975
26Werribee Gorge5631,39016 May 1978

Regional parks

Regional parks are found close to urban centres or major tourist routes. While still places of natural beauty, visitor recreation is the primary purpose of regional parks.

  • Ararat Regional Park
  • Baranduda Regional Park
  • Bendigo Regional Park
  • Cobram Regional Park
  • Colquhoun Regional Park
  • Crawford River Regional Park
  • Creswick Regional Park
  • Crossover Regional Park
  • Echuca Regional Park
  • Glenmaggie Regional Park
  • Hepburn Regional Park
  • Jarvis Creek Plateau Regional Park
  • Kerang Regional Park
  • Kororoit Creek Regional Park (being developed)
  • Kurth Kiln Regional Park
  • Macedon Regional Park
  • Maryborough Regional Park
  • Mirboo North Regional Park
  • Mount Alexander Regional Park
  • Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park
  • Mount Raymond Regional Park
  • Shepparton Regional Park
  • St Arnaud Regional Park
  • Tocumwal Regional Park
  • Wandong Regional Park
  • Werribee Regional Park
  • Woowookarung Regional Park
  • Yarrawonga Regional Park
  • You Yangs Regional Park

Metropolitan parks

Metropolitan parks are very similar to regional parks, however, are located in metropolitan Melbourne.

Indigenous Protected Areas

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) are "areas of land and sea managed by Indigenous groups as protected areas for biodiversity conservation through voluntary agreements with the Australian Government".[5]

There are 5 indigenous protected areas in Victoria, totalling 3,888 ha (9,610 acres) (0.1% of the state's protected areas).[1] The following IPAs have been declared in Victoria:[6][7][8]

Historic and heritage

Parks Victoria is responsible for the largest and most diverse collection of heritage places on public land in Victoria. They manage more than 3,000 historic assets including cultural landscapes, buildings, infrastructure, significant trees, objects and artefacts, archaeological sites, and shipwrecks.

Historic and heritage parks

Historic or heritage parks are significant historic cultural landscapes of heritage value. There are 6 historic and heritage parks in Victoria[9]

Historic and heritage areas

There are 75 historic and heritage areas in Victoria[9] including:

Heritage River

There are 18 heritage rivers in Victoria, totalling 158,783 ha (392,360 acres) (3.96% of the state's protected areas).[1] These are defined under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 as parts of rivers and river catchment areas that have significant nature conservation, recreation, scenic or cultural heritage values

Marine protected areas

Victoria is the first jurisdiction in the world to create an entire system of highly protected marine national parks at the same time.[12] As of 2020 Victoria contained 30 separate marine protected areas with a total area of 121,242 ha (299,600 acres) (11.87% of the state's coastal waters).[1] Marine national parks and sanctuaries contain important marine habitats and species, or encompass areas of significant natural features; and are highly protected areas in which no fishing, extractive or damaging activities are permitted.

Marine national parks

There are 13 marine national parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 52,191 ha (128,970 acres) (43.05% of the state's protected waters)[1].

Marine national parks of Victoria
Marine national parks of Victoria
Order Marine national park name Area[1] Declared
as a marine national park[1]
ha acre
1Bunurong2,0485,06016 November 2002
2Cape Howe4,07810,08016 November 2002
3Churchill Island6701,70016 November 2002
4Corner Inlet1,4143,49016 November 2002
5Discovery Bay2,7906,90016 November 2002
6French Island2,9807,40016 November 2002
7Ninety Mile Beach2,6526,55016 November 2002
8Point Addis4,41910,92016 November 2002
9Point Hicks3,8039,40016 November 2002
10Port Phillip Heads3,4738,58016 November 2002
11Twelve Apostles7,50218,54016 November 2002
12Wilsons Promontory15,58638,51016 November 2002
13Yaringa7761,92016 November 2002

Marine sanctuaries

There are 11 marine sanctuaries in Victoria,[2] totalling 864 ha (2,130 acres) (0.71% of the state's protected waters)[1].

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
Marine sanctuaries of Victoria
Marine sanctuaries of Victoria
Order Marine sanctuaries name Area[1] Declared
as a marine sanctuaries[1]
ha acre
1Barwon Bluff164016 November 2002
2Beware Reef22054016 November 2002
3Eagle Rock184416 November 2002
4Jawbone307416 November 2002
5Marengo Reefs133216 November 2002
6Merri297216 November 2002
7Mushroom Reef5714016 November 2002
8Point Cooke29272016 November 2002
9Point Danger225416 November 2002
10Ricketts Point12130016 November 2002
11The Arches4812016 November 2002

Coastal and marine parks

Coastal Parks and Marine Parks protect areas of coastal, intertidal or subtidal land. There are 6 marine (or marine & coastal) parks in Victoria, totalling 68,187 ha (168,490 acres) (56.24% of the state's protected waters).[1] There are also 5 coastal parks in Victoria, totalling 45,284 ha (111,900 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected land areas).[1]

4
5
8
9
10
Marine and coastal parks of Victoria
Marine parks of Victoria
Order Marine park name Area[1] Declared
as a marine park[1]		 Notes
ha acre
1Bay of Islands9352,3104 June 1997Coastal park
2Bunurong1,2603,10017 December 1991Marine & coastal park
3Cape Conran11,57628,6004 June 1997Coastal park
4Cape Liptrap4,32710,6904 June 1997Coastal park
5Corner Inlet28,56770,59018 April 1986Marine & coastal park
6Discovery Bay10,64326,30026 April 1979Coastal park
7Gippsland Lakes17,80343,99026 April 1979Coastal park
8Nooramunga30,20075,00018 April 1986Marine & coastal park
9Shallow Inlet1,9724,87018 April 1986Marine & coastal park
10Wilsons Promontory6,18715,29018 April 1986Marine park & marine reserve

Reference areas

Reference areas are tracts of public land containing viable samples of one or more land types that are relatively undisturbed. There are 144 reference areas in Victoria, totalling 112,628 ha (278,310 acres) (2.81% of the state's protected areas) and all but 23,032 ha (56,910 acres) are located inside other protected areas[1] including:

  • Anser Island
  • Baw Baw
  • Benedore River
  • Cobboboonee
  • Cobboboonee
  • Disappointment
  • French Island (East)
  • French Island (North)
  • Kooyoora
  • Little Desert (East)
  • Little Desert (West)
  • Merragunegin
  • Mitta Mitta
  • Mount Buffalo
  • Pine Mountain
  • Raak Plain
  • Reef Hills
  • Stringybark Creek
  • Sunset
  • Tambo River
  • Terrick Terrick
  • Tooan
  • Warby Range
  • Wonnangatta River
  • Yan Yean North
  • Yan Yean South

Other nature areas

Wilderness and Nature parks

Wilderness parks are large areas with native plant and animal communities that are relatively unaffected by humans. They are managed for conservation, with no facilities provided for visitors and no vehicles are permitted. There are 3 wilderness parks in Victoria,[2] totalling 200,699 ha (495,940 acres) (5% of the state's protected areas).[1]

There is 1 nature park in Victoria, totalling 1,925 ha (4,760 acres) (0.05% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Other parks of Victoria
Wilderness & Nature parks of Victoria
Order Park name Area[1] Declared
as a wilderness park[1]		 Notes
ha acre
1Avon39,56697,77027 November 1987Wilderness park
2Big Desert141,713350,18026 April 1979Wilderness park
3Phillip Island1,9254,76027 June 1997Nature park
4Wabba19,39547,93030 June 1992Wilderness park

Wilderness zones

There are 19 wilderness zones in Victoria, totalling 641,441 ha (1,585,040 acres) (15.98% of the state's protected areas) and all but 131 ha (320 acres) are located inside other protected areas.[1]

  • Bowen
  • Buchan Headwaters
  • Cape Howe
  • Chinaman Flat
  • Cobberas
  • Galpunga
  • Genoa
  • Indi
  • Minook
  • Mount Cowra
  • Mount Darling - Snowy Bluff
  • North Wyperfeld
  • Razor-Viking
  • Sandpatch
  • Snowy River
  • South Wyperfeld
  • Sunset
  • Tingaringy
  • Wilsons Promontory

Natural catchment area

There are 25 natural catchment areas in Victoria, totalling 151,368 ha (374,040 acres) (3.77% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Remote and natural area

There are 24 remote and natural areas in Victoria, totalling 302,990 ha (748,700 acres) (7.55% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Other reserves

In Victoria, there are a total of 2776 nature reserves, totalling 467,092 ha (1,154,210 acres) (11.64% of the state's protected areas)[1] divided is the following different groups:

Bushland Reserve

There are 1592 bushland reserves in Victoria, totalling 45,305 ha (111,950 acres) (1.13% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Cave Reserve

There are 9 cave reserves in Victoria, totalling 532 ha (1,310 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Conservation park / reserve

There are 13 conservation parks / conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 20,994 ha (51,880 acres) (0.52% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Flora & Fauna Reserve

There are a total of 186 flora and/or fauna reserves in Victoria, totalling 119,632 ha (295,620 acres) (2.98% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Geological Reserve

There are 14 geological reserves in Victoria, totalling 436 ha (1,080 acres) (0.01% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Gippsland Lakes Reserve

There are 39 gippsland lakes reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,129 ha (17,620 acres) (0.18% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Nature Conservation Reserve

There are 263 nature conservation reserves in Victoria, totalling 136,909 ha (338,310 acres) (3.41% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Natural Features and Scenic Reserve

There are 49 natural features reserves in Victoria, totalling 10,402 ha (25,700 acres) (0.26% of the state's protected areas)[1].
There are 50 scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 9,649 ha (23,840 acres) (0.24% of the state's protected areas)[1].
There are 24 combined natural features and scenic reserves in Victoria, totalling 19,799 ha (48,920 acres) (0.49% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Streamside Reserve

There are 259 streamside reserves in Victoria, totalling 7,895 ha (19,510 acres) (0.2% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Tall Trees Reserve

There is 1 tall trees reserve in Victoria, totalling 14 ha (35 acres).[1]

Wildlife Reserve

There are 277 wildlife reserves in Victoria, totalling 88,396 ha (218,430 acres) (2.2% of the state's protected areas).[1]

Some of the nature reserves include

See also

References
  1. "Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database". Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Commonwealth of Australia. 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. "What we manage". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. Parks Victoria: Creation of Parks.pdf
  4. Parks Victoria, Lind and Alfred National Parks management plan (August 1998), p. 2.
  5. "Indigenous Protected Areas". Australian Government. Dept of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  6. "Declared Indigenous Protected Areas in Victoria". Department of the Environment. Archived from the original on 10 April 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  7. "Indigenous land and sea management projects". National Indigenous Australians Agency. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  8. "Framlingham Forest IPA". National Indigenous Australians AgencyVic Projects. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  9. "Parks Victoria". Parks Victoria. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  10. "Heritage Rivers Act 1992 — Schedule 1". AustLII: Australasian Legal Information Institute. UTS and UNSW Faculties of Law. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  11. Nevill, Jon (20 June 2007). "Counting Australia's protected rivers". OnlyOnePlanet. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  12. "Victoria's System of Marine National Parks and Marine Sanctuaries. Management Strategy 2003–2010" (PDF). Parks Victoria (PDF). Government of Victoria. 2003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2012.
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