First National Park

The first national park in Australia, now known as Royal National Park, was established on 26 April 1879. Only the second national park in the world, it helped set a trend of natural conservation in Australia and around the globe. Located near Sydney, New South Wales, it was created to provide people with an environment with fresh air, scenic beauty and recreational activities, such as walking, camping and boating.

Today, the park is dedicated to the conservation and study of native flora and fauna and the preservation of the region's Aboriginal cultural history, as well as recreation. At sixteen thousand hectares, it includes picnic areas, barbeque facilities, campgrounds, cabins and cottages, walking trails, a visitor centre and a café. It has several beaches and freshwater pools, a rainforest, grasslands and other landscapes. Recreational activities include bushwalking, fishing, swimming, camping, picnicking and cycling.

Background

Australia's first national park was created because of concern about the dangers of urbanisation to public health and a belief in the positive attributes of nature. From 1858 to 1877 Australia's population doubled, leading to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions in large cities such as Sydney. People became increasingly concerned about the detrimental effects of urban living, both in terms of health and social wellbeing. In Sydney a measles epidemic in 1867 and a scarlet fever epidemic in the 1870s heightened concerns about the adverse relationship between health and city living.

Around the same time people began to believe that nature could counteract some harmful effects of industrialisation and urban living. This view became popular in the United States and European countries from the early nineteenth century, with the rise of Romanticism. For example, Americans Henry David Thoreau and John Muir encouraged people to connect with nature to improve their quality of life. Holidaying in rural areas for health and restorative purposes became popular, and cities and countries began to set aside open spaces so city dwellers could enjoy the benefits of nature.

In March 1872 the United States created the world's first national park, Yellowstone National Park, based on such ideas. Over the next few years several prominent figures in Australia, including some members of Parliament (MPs), began calling for the establishment of parks and recreational areas near the denser communities of New South Wales.

On 18 February 1879 John Lucas, an MP, proposed that the House of Assembly create a committee to consider two resolutions: that land be set aside in all towns, villages and cities for parks, pleasure grounds and recreation areas to promote the citizens' health; and that all Crown land surveyed to establish a town, village or city should reserve a set amount for recreational space. The House of Assembly adopted both resolutions on 21 March 1879 to much public approval. Ten days later the minister for lands reserved a 7,284 hectare (18,000 acre) parcel south of central Sydney for a national park. The site was selected by Sir John Robertson, who helped develop and promote the concept of national land for recreation and relaxation.

From Recreation to Conservation

On 26 April 1879 the chosen plot of land was officially dedicated as a national park under the fifth section of the Crown Lands Alienation Act of 1861, which allowed areas to be reserved for 'public health and recreation, convenience, or enjoyment'. The land was bordered by the ocean on the east and Port Hacking on the north. Plans were also made for a rail connection between Sydney and the new park.

Initially the main purpose of the park was recreation, which was reflected in the term national pleasure ground used to identify it in the Official Guide of 1893. There was little desire to protect the area's natural features and keep it undeveloped. The trustees of the park, who were authorised to oversee its development and manage it, planned to improve the land by introducing exotic plants, fish and animals; planting ornamental trees and plants; and creating zoological gardens. They planned to build a racecourse, create a rifle or artillery range and build bathing facilities. They foresaw the military or naval forces using the park for encampment and exercises. Roads were established, and Port Hacking River and Kangaroo Creek were dammed to allow for boat traffic. Camping cabins and other buildings also were erected.

From the establishment of the park, the trustees took some measures to prevent the clearing of forests, though timber was harvested for construction purposes and eventually some logging licenses were allowed. But access to the park helped spark a true conservation movement in the Australian public. From the early 1900s the so-called bushwalker conservationists, led by Myles Dunphy, helped push for clearer conservation of wilderness areas. In 1922 David Stead of the Wildlife Preservation Society and other conservationists protested the removal of timber from the park for uses other than fencing or construction within the park. The government ruled the trustees lacked the authority to grant timber leases, marking a shift to modern conservation efforts and the protection of native flora and fauna.

Over the years additional land was added to the park and some land was swapped to make way for the railway and roads. It also grew increasingly popular: in 1892 there were 38,000 annual visitors; in 1903, 170,000; and in 1910, 250,000. In 1955 the park's name was changed to Royal National Park following a 1954 visit by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1967 the Garawarra State Conservation Area was added to the park. By 2000 there were an estimated 3 million annual visitors to the park.

Impact

The creation of a national park in New South Wales led to national parks being formed in each of Australia's states. South Australia created Belair National Park in 1891, followed by Wilson's Promontory National Park in Victoria and the reservation of what became John Forrest National Park in Western Australia, both in 1898. Ten years later Queensland created Witches Fall National Park, and in 1916 Tasmania created Freycinet National Park and National Park (now Mount Field National Park). By 2007 Australia had 558 national parks.

In 2006 Australia designated Royal National Park a National Heritage Place. A movement seeks recognition of the park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bibliography

"First National Park." National Museum Australia, Australian Government, www.nma.gov.au/online‗features/defining‗moments/featured/first‗national‗park. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

Hannam, Peter. "World Heritage Status for Royal National Park Stuck in the Slow Lane, Greens Say." The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 Aug. 2017, www.smh.com.au/environment/world-heritage-status-for-royal-national-park-stuck-in-the-slow-lane-greens-say-20170811-gxubrl.html. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

Martin, Peter. "F6 Extension to Mean Bulldozing 460 Homes or Cutting through the National Park." The Sydney Morning Herald, 14 June 2017, www.smh.com.au/nsw/f6-extension-to-mean-bulldozing-460-homes-or-cutting-through-the-national-park-20170613-gwq6ba.html. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

Mosley, Geoff. The First National Park: A Natural for World Heritage. Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, 2012, www.firstnationalpark.org.au/downloads/First%20National%20Park.pdf. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

"National Heritage Places—Royal National Park and Garawarra State Conservation Area." Department of the Environment and Energy, Australian Government, www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/royal-park. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

New South Wales National Park Trust and Thomas D. Elwell. An Official Guide to the National Park of New South Wales. Government Printer, 1893. Google Books, books.google.com/books?id=qfZIAQAAMAAJ. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

"Royal and Yellowstone—The World's First National Parks." National Parks Association of NSW, 29 May 2017, npansw.org/2017/05/29/royal-yellowstone-the-worlds-first-national-parks. Accessed 8 Jan. 2018.

"Royal National Park." NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, NSW Government, 2018, www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/royal-national-park. Accessed 6 Jan. 2018.