Munmorah State Conservation Area New South Wales |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
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Nearest town or city | Wyong |
Coordinates | 33°10′55″S 151°36′04″E / 33.182°S 151.601°ECoordinates: 33°10′55″S 151°36′04″E / 33.182°S 151.601°E |
Established | 1 January 1977 |
Area | 15.3 km2 (5.9 sq mi) |
Managing authorities | NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service |
See also | Protected areas of New South Wales |
Munmorah State Conservation Area is located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The area's coastal setting and panoramic views, perched sand dunes, diverse vegetation communities, protected threatened species and migratory bird habitats and opportunities for nature based recreation and opportunities for educational and scientific study were cited as reasons for the reserve's creation. The reserve is part of the Tuggerah Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for a variety of water and woodland birds.
The land now occupied by Munmorah State Conservation Area was first inhabited by the Darkinjung people and the Awabakal people, the Indigenous Australians. The Darkinjung occupied the southern section and the Awabakal occupied the northern section. It is believed Europeans first discovered the Tuggerah Lakes in 1796. It was found by Governor of Tasmania, Colonel David Collins, who had arrived on the First Fleet during the search for an escaped convict woman, Mary Morgan, who was said to be living with the Aborigines to the North of the Hawkesbury River.
Large areas of forest in the Conservation Area were burnt out during bushfires in October 2013.