Gibraltar Falls

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Coordinates: 35°32′15″S 148°52′42″E / 35.53750°S 148.87833°E / -35.53750; 148.87833
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For the Poul Anderson short story of the same name, see The Dark Between the Stars (collection).

Gibraltar Falls
Gibraltar Falls
Gibraltar Falls is located in Australian Capital Territory
Gibraltar Falls
Map
LocationNamadgi National Park, Australian Capital Territory
Coordinates35°32′15″S 148°52′42″E / 35.53750°S 148.87833°E / -35.53750; 148.87833
TypeCascade
Total height50 metres (160 ft)
WatercourseGibraltar Creek

The Gibraltar Falls are a cascade waterfall on the Gibraltar Creek, in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), approximately 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Canberra's city centre,[1][2][3] The falls have a 50-metre (160-foot) drop.

Location and features[edit]

In Namadgi National Park,[4] the falls are near Corin Road in the Gibraltar Creek Pine Forest. A gravel track from a nearby car park provides access to a lookout to view the falls.[5][6] There are a number of walking trails near the falls.[7] Near the falls is a car park, public toilets, and a picnic shelter with a gas barbecue.[8]

The falls have a 50-metre (160 ft) drop.[3]

There is not much drainage on Gibraltar Falls, though water will still fall from the falls during drought conditions.[2][9] Three Glossy Black-Cockatoos were spotted at the falls in November 2000. These birds are not frequently found in the territory.[10]

The falls were depicted in the 1966 oil painting titled Rescue at Gibraltar Falls, by John Perceval, with Australian National University landscape architect serving as a model for the figure found in the painting.[1] Bushwalks used to take place to get to the falls.[9] The Australian Heritage Commission commissioned a report on the falls called "An archaeological investigation of the Gibraltar Falls recreation area, A.C.T."[11] Axe grinding grooves have been found at the falls.[12]

Fauna and Flora[edit]

The falls is a habitat of the ACT rare Austral pillwort,[13] a fern with thread-like leaves,[14] and the vulnerable Alpine Redspot Dragonfly.[13][15]

Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area[edit]

The falls is part of the Gilbralter Falls / Woods Reserve Area that is listed on the Register of the National Estate and the ACT National Heritage of Australia list.[12] It is about 170ha in area and is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) West North-west of Tharwa.[16]

Incidents[edit]

In 2023 a 19-year-old died after falling off the cliffs and into the water.[17] A few days later, another fatal accident occurred resulting in the death of a 22-year-old man.[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Allen, Traudi; Perceval, John (1992). John Perceval. Melbourne University Publish. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-522-84495-5. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Gibraltar Falls (Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Australia)". World-of-waterfalls.com. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Upgrade to walking trail at Gibraltar Falls recreation area". Cmd.act.gov.au. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  4. ^ Siseman, John (1 January 1988). Alpine walking track: Walhalla to Canberra. Pindari Publications. p. 146. ISBN 978-0-9587874-0-6. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Woods Reserve". Territory and Municipal Services. Archived from the original on 16 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-25.
  6. ^ "Gibraltar Falls". Visit Canberra. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  7. ^ Wheeler, Tony (August 1986). Australia, a travel survival kit. Lonely Planet. pp. 87–89. ISBN 978-0-908086-73-3. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  8. ^ Armstrong, Elizabeth K. (2008). "Tourism destination recovery after the 2003 Canberra fires" (PDF). p. x. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
  9. ^ a b "What People are Doing". The Canberra Times. 15 December 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 25 October 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ Holliday, Steve (December 2004). "The Glossy Black-Cockatoo in the Australian Capital Territory" (PDF). Canberra Bird Notes. 29 (4): 126. ISSN 0314-8211. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2009.
  11. ^ Hiscock, P; Feary, Sue; Australian Heritage Commission (1984), An archaeological investigation of the Gibraltar Falls recreation area, A.C.T.: a report to the Australian Heritage Commission, ANUTECH, retrieved 21 November 2012
  12. ^ a b Rodney Garnett; Danielle Hyndes, eds. (1992). The Heritage of the Australian Capital Territory. National Trust of Australia (ACT). p. 2. ISBN 978-0-95949-415-0. OCLC 38323685.
  13. ^ a b "Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area". dmzapp17p.ris.environment.gov.au. Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  14. ^ "Austral Pillwort – profile". environment.nsw.gov.au. NSW Office of Environment & Heritage. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Alpine Redspot Dragonfly – Austropetalia tonyana". dpi.nsw.gov.au. NSW Department of Primary Industries. Archived from the original on 25 June 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Gibraltar Falls / Woods Reserve Area, Corin Rd, Tharwa, ACT, Australia". environment.gov.au. Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 16 June 2017.
  17. ^ McPhee, Sarah (12 February 2023). "Teenager dies after falling at waterfall in the ACT". The Age. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  18. ^ Roberts, Georgia (19 February 2023). "Man, 22, second fatality in less than a week at Gibraltar Falls in ACT national park in the ACT". ABC News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.

External links[edit]

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