Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area Conservation Management Plan

The Toorale National Park and State Conservation Area is a diverse landscape of state significance, with extensive under-represented floodplain grasslands and swamp/wetland as well as chenopod shrublands and woodlands. Toorale supports endangered plant communities and at least four threatened species recognised by state and national listing associated with its floodplain and channel landscapes. It also supports a diversity of native fauna mostly associated with the park's floodplain landscapes.

The purchase of the Toorale Station by the federal government to acquire its water rights, represents a landmark stage in Australian history in the recognition of the significance of preserving inland river water flows.

The study area for this report addresses the extent of the former station as acquired by the federal and NSW state governments in 2008. However, it concentrates on the historic precincts within the property boundaries. Toorale is largely a landscape of absence, as much of the very old historic fabric was ephemeral or was removed by the corporate owners after 1969. There are only 4 precincts with very significant historic fabric:

1. The Old Toorale Homestead Precinct
2. The Old Toorale Woolshed Precinct
3. The Boera Precinct (the Boera Dam and Floodwaters Scheme)
4. The Nissen and Quonset Huts Shearing Sheds Precinct, (this is the site of old very sheep drafting yards overlaid by more recent buildings adapted for use as shearing sheds, which are of technological interest).

Significant Aboriginal sites are more widespread, often associated with the routes of the rivers.

Visitor information

Take a self-guided tour of Toorale Homestead precinct (Yarramarra) in Toorale National Park.