PLACES IN AND AROUND PERTH No 13

YANCHEP NATIONAL PARK is 42 kilometres (26 miles) north of Perth, Western Australia.  Thepark is noted for its caves, native bush and koala colonies.  It also offer cultural educational programmes in partnership with the local Nyoongar aboringal people.

 History:  The area was inhabited and was a noted hunting site for thousands of years by indigenous Australians prior to arrival of Europeans.  The tribal name for the park is Nyanyi-Yandjip named after the reeds and lake which were thought to resemble the hairy mane of the dreamtime creature the Waugul.  The word Yanchep is derived from Yandjip or Yanget.

The first European visitor arrived in 1834 when John Butler, a farmer, came in search of his lost cattle and noted the presence of the lakes, wetlands and plentiful game.  While in the area Butler was greeted by the men of the Yallagonga peoples who inhabited the area.

Lieutenant George Grey travelled through the area in 1838 and made note of the remarkable caves he found in the area.

 The ballroom cave is often used for weddings and other celebrations.

 Surveyor John Septimus Roe and Governor John Hutt visited the caves in the park in 1841.  A road survey was conducted near Lock McNess in 1862 and later in 1864 a stock route was built through the area that was later used by drovers.

The first settler to arrive in the area as Henry White who arrived in 1901 and built his house near the north-west shore of Yonderup Lake.   He was later appointed caretaker and guide in 1903.

Flora and Fauna:  The park is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna.  Trees such as banksias, paperbark, tuart, marri, sheoak and stunted jarrah are found in the woodland areas.  Wildflowers incluing parrot bush, Yanchep rose, catspaw and kangaroo paw are also found in the park.

The park provides habitat for several species of native mammal including the quenda, western grey kangaroo, and black glove wallaby.

The park lies within the Northern Swan Coastal Plain Important Bird Area, so identified by Birdlife International because of its importance is supporting several thousand short-billed black cockatoos during the non-breeding season.