Nature, culture and history

Natural environment

The park and the three reserves cover about 52,000ha, and straddle two bioregions—the Einasleigh Uplands and Gulf Plains.

Einasleigh uplands bioregion

The lower basalt plains and granite hills of Blackbraes National Park and Blackbraes Regional Park are part of the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion.

The basalt plains support ironbark woodlands of mostly poplar gum Eucalyptus platyphylla and narrow-leaved ironbark Eucalyptus crebra. The grassy understorey is home to eastern grey kangaroos Macropus giganteus and spectacled hare-wallabies Lagorchestes conspicillatus. Creeks dissect the plains and wetlands, swamps, dams and springs support a variety of waterbirds including ducks, egrets, herons, cormorants and grebes.

The granite hills of the park support ironbark woodlands of silver-leaved ironbark Eucalyptus shirleyi, narrow-leaved red ironbark Eucalyptus crebra and Grevillea decora var decora. The flowers are a rich source of nectar for many bird species including honeyeaters, friarbirds and lorikeets. Allied rock-wallabies Petrogale assimilis and monitors Varanus sp. are found among the boulders.

Gulf Plains bioregion

The Gulf Plains bioregion section of the park encompasses sandstone ranges, plateaus and escarpments, including the 900m high Juntala Plateau. The sandy plateaus have tall eucalypt forest of lemon-scented gums Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus mediocris, narrow-leaved red ironbark Eucalyptus crebra, coast cypress pines Callitris intratropica and the vulnerable Acacia ramiflora. These forests support a high density of arboreal animals including greater gliders Petauroides volans and common brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula. Northern brown bandicoots Isoodon macrourus are occasionally seen in the grassy understorey.

History

Relics of 100 years of pastoral, grazing and mining history are strewn across the park. Buildings, huts, cattle yards, windmills, fences, bores and dams are all that remains of the former Blackbraes Pastoral Company.