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The Australian Alps

www.heritage.gov.au

The National Heritage List recognises and protects our most valued natural, Indigenous and historic heritage sites. It reflects the story of our development, from our original inhabitants to the present day, Australia’s spirit and ingenuity, and our unique, living landscapes.

Each place in the List has been assessed by the Australian Heritage Council as having outstanding heritage value to the nation, and is protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. This means that approval must be obtained before taking any action that may have a significant impact on the national heritage values of the place. In this way, we can retain our heritage for future generations.

To ensure ongoing protection, each listed place should have a management plan outlining how the heritage values of the site will be conserved and interpreted.

The National Heritage List enables all Australians to value, protect, and celebrate our unique heritage.

For further information visit www.heritage.gov.au

Cover image: Australian Scenics

ACT Parks Conservation and Lands 02 6207 5111

Australian Alps national parks www.australianalps.environment.gov.au

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service 1300 361 967

Parks Victoria 131963

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The spectacular and distinctive Australian Alps contain landforms created by glaciers, remarkable fish fossils and unique cold climate plants and animals. The Alps have a strong association with Australia’s pioneering history, while the snowfields and national parks have long been popular recreation areas. The Australian Alps, made up of eleven national parks and nature reserves, received Australia’s highest heritage honour on 7 November 2008.

Unique natural environment

• The high altitude peaks and plateaus, glacial lakes and alpine and sub-alpine ecosystems of the Australian Alps are rare in our mostly flat, dry and hot continent.

• Containing the highest peaks in the Great Dividing Range, the Alps are of outstanding landscape value and are important in the pattern

of Australia’s natural history. The Kosciuszko Plateau includes the most striking examples on the Australian mainland of landforms created by glaciers. The remarkable Mt Howitt fish fossils demonstrate all life stages from larvae to mature fish.

• The Alps are home to unique cold climate plants and animals – from wildflowers to snow gums, and from mountain pygmy possums to migratory Bogong moths.

Longstanding human interaction

• Past large scale Aboriginal social gatherings based on moth feasting were unique to the Alps.

• Huts, fences, cattle yards and stock routes reflect over 150 years of summer grazing on the alpine high plains, which began in the 1830s. The distinctive way of life associated with that grazing is significant to

our pastoral and pioneering history. Linked to this is Banjo Paterson’s ballad The Man from Snowy River, an epic legend of horsemanship.

• The Alps is the major area in Australia for broad-scale snow recreation. Snow sports began in the 1860s and activities expanded during the 20th century.

• With significant natural catchments, the Alps have contributed to the nation’s social and economic development through the use of alpine waters for irrigation, to generate electricity and as a partial source for domestic water supplies for Melbourne and Canberra.

Scientific significance

• There is a long history of scientific research and endeavour in the Alps. For example, in the mid-1800s Baron Ferdinand von Mueller gathered extensive botanical alpine collections and Alfred William Howitt documented the area’s geology, botany and Aboriginal societies.

• The Honeysuckle Creek Tracking Station played a major role in the Apollo 11 moon landing mission.

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