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16-569: Kennedy Range National Park is a national park in Gascoyne region of Western Australia , approximately 830 kilometres (520 mi) north of Perth and about 150 km (93 mi) east of Carnarvon . Kennedy Range is found on the edge of the Gascoyne River catchment area and is a weathered plateau that extends for a distance of 150 km (93 mi), essentially forming a huge mesa . Spectacular sandstone cliffs can be found on

32-868: A Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty. Captain Gascoyne was a committee member of the London-based Western Australian Missionary Society and a member of the London Association for the Protection of the Interests of the Colony . In 1858 Francis Gregory explored the region and subsequently publicized it as highly suitable to pastoralism . Settlement began in the 1860s, and the town of Carnarvon

48-472: A result of cyclonic activity. Because of the semi-arid climate, most of the Gascoyne is covered in scrub, primarily spinifex and mulga , with very little tree cover. Horticulture is the major industry of the Gascoyne region. Bananas, tomatoes, grapefruit, mangoes, table grapes and a range of vegetable products are grown along the Gascoyne River . Climatic advantages enable the growers to meet out-of-season demand both locally and in export markets. Fishing

64-624: Is also a major industry with prawn, scallop, crab and wet line fishing operations based in Carnarvon and Exmouth. In the mining sector, salt and gypsum are mined at Lake MacLeod , north of Carnarvon. Tourism is an important industry, due to the warm dry climate and the long coastline, which includes the Ningaloo Reef and the Shark Bay World Heritage Site . The pastoral industry was historically important but

80-480: Is no longer a major contributor to the economy. It represents the region's main land use: in 1994 84% of the Gascoyne's land area was covered by pastoral leases . Before being settled by Europeans, the Gascoyne had been home to Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. The first known European to land in the region was Dirk Hartog in 1616; other early visitors include Willem Jansz , William Dampier , Nicolas Baudin , and Phillip King . In September 1834

96-678: The Triodia of the Pilbara (28 species and one hybrid). Triodia species are perennial Australian hummock grasses that grow in arid regions. Their leaves (30–40 centimetres long) are subulate ( awl -shaped, with a tapering point). The leaf tips, which are high in silica, can break off in the skin, leading to infections. Spinifex has had many traditional uses for Aboriginal Australians . Several species were (and are) used extensively as materials for basket weaving . The seeds were collected and ground to make seedcakes . Spinifex resin

112-571: The Indigenous Australians inhabited the area for over 20,000 years prior to European settlement. The first European to explore the area was Francis Thomas Gregory , whose expedition reached the range in 1858. Gregory named the range after the Governor of Western Australia at the time, Arthur Edward Kennedy . He also named the nearby Lyons River in the same expedition before continuing to Mount Augustus . Pastoralists arrived in

128-543: The area shortly afterwards with Charles Brockman setting up Boolathana Station in 1877, and the region experienced success in wool production until the 1930s when the overgrazing , drought and the Great Depression caused most businesses to fail. The valleys and plains of the range had been severely degraded but the range top was only slightly damaged as a result of pastoral activity. The area has been explored for minerals but has not been mined. The park

144-493: The common name spinifex , although they are not a part of the coastal genus Spinifex . Many soft-leaved Triodia species were formerly included in the genus Plectrachne . Triodia is known as tjanpi (grass) in central Australia , and have several traditional uses amongst the Aboriginal Australian peoples of the region. A multiaccess key (SpiKey) is available as a free application for identifying

160-754: The park, including mulla mulla , hakeas , eremophilas , Calytrix , verticordias and various everlasting daisies . A species of lizard Lerista kennedyensis , commonly called the "Kennedy Range broad-blazed slider", is named after the Kennedy Range. Gascoyne (Western Australia) The Gascoyne has the lowest population of any region of Western Australia, with about 9,277 people. The majority of residents are non-Aboriginal people born in Australia (74%). Just over half live in Carnarvon (4,426) where Aboriginal residents account for 18% of

176-571: The population. Other centres are Exmouth , Denham , Gascoyne Junction and Coral Bay . The Gascoyne has a moderate arid tropical, climate. It is generally warm all year round, with mean maximum daily temperatures ranging from 22 °C (72 °F) in July to 35 °C (95 °F) in January. The region receives about 320 days of sunshine per year. Annual rainfall is low and variable, averaging about 200 mm (8 in), most of which occurs as

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192-481: The presence of pearl shell and guano were noted by Thomas Hunt of the schooner Monkey , while searching for the wreck of the barque Mercury . Shark Bay became the site of Australia 's first pearling industry when production of mother-of-pearl began in January 1850. In 1839, George Grey explored the area and named the Gascoyne River after Captain John Gascoyne RN, son of Bamber Gascoyne ,

208-521: The southern and eastern sides of the range, which are dissected by steep canyons which have an elevation of up to 100 metres (330 ft). The Range formed a natural border for two Aboriginal peoples, the Maia and the Malgaru . Natural springs located on the edge of the ranges would have provided game to hunt and outcrops of chert would have provided stone for tools. Over 100 sites provide evidence that

224-400: Was an important adhesive used in spear-making. Burning spinifex produces a strong black smoke, and smoke signals made in this way were an effective means of communication with families and groups over substantial distances. The species Triodia wiseana is used for building shelters; bunched together it is used for trapping fish against creek beds. It is called baru in the languages of

240-432: Was gazetted in 1883. By 1880 the area was home to approximately 20,000 sheep on a number of sheep stations in the area. In 2021, 4 year old girl Cleo Smith was abducted and later found in Carnarvon . 22°S 115°E  /  22°S 115°E  / -22; 115 Triodia (grass) Triodia is a large genus of hummock grass endemic to Australia. The species of this genus are known by

256-451: Was officially gazetted in 1993 and contains some facilities for visitors. A bush toilet and camp-sites are located at Temple Gorge, but it is planned to relocate this camp ground. There are a number of walk trails within the park but no water is available. Entry to the park is free but camp-site fees apply. A popular time to visit the park is following heavy rains when wildflowers emerge. Over 80 species of wildflower are known to inhabit

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