Goulburn River
National Park is located within the traditional lands occupied
by Aboriginal people of the Wiradjurie, Gamileroi and Wonnarua
language groups. The river valley is believed to be a major
trading route between people of the coast and the western
plains.
The land and
waterways, and the plants and animals that live in them,
feature in all facets of Aboriginal culture including
recreational, ceremonial, and spiritual, and as a main source
of food and medicine. They are associated with dreaming
stories and cultural learning that is still passed on today.
During the 1830s
small pastoral holdings were established along the major river
flats. The marginal nature of farming and the limited logging
and mining exploration ensured that much of the landscape had
remained relatively undisturbed.
As part of the
Kerrabee Dam proposal, much of what is now Goulburn River
National Park was listed to be flooded in the early 1980s. The
dam was to be constructed on the Goulburn River at the
junction with the Merriwa River to supply water to the Hunter
Valley. However, following extensive environmental assessment,
it was determined that the area's significant natural and
cultural values precluded construction of the dam. The area
was reserved as Goulburn River National Park in 1983.
