Wetherill Park Nature Reserve

33°50′52″S 150°54′34″E / 33.847706°S 150.909556°E / -33.847706; 150.909556Area6.5 hectares (16.06 acres)Opened1979Operated byFairfield City CouncilStatusOpen all year

Wetherill Park Nature Reserve, also called Wetherill Park Reserve, is an urban park and a nature reserve situated in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The reserve contains an open woodland and bushland which feature native plants, such as eucalyptus trees, and recreational areas.^[1]

Landform

The reserve is on an elevated ridge that is 62 metres (203 ft) high towards the eastern point of the park, which features a broad panorama over the surrounding area within the park. The reserve is strategically placed between the industrial areas to the north and residential areas to the south of the park, thus giving a visual alleviation from these surroundings. The topsoil of many areas in the park has been eroded due to wind and water, leaving the clay sub soil exposed.^[2]

Features

Recreational characteristics in the reserve include shaded picnic areas with barbeque, walking paths and a number of children's playgrounds all within the native bushland. In the park, there is a prominent monument made in bluestone that is dedicated to the fallen World War I soldiers who had resided in Wetherill Park.^[3]^[4]

Ecology

Flora

The reserve features a dry sclerophyll forest with an understory of sod grasses, and a gradient "meadow-like" grassland in the open areas.^[5] A number of native trees, such as, Forest Red Gum and Grey Box are found in the park, which are remnants of the Cumberland Plain Woodland.^[6] The trees would stand at 10–15 metres (33–49 ft) and would provide shade. There is a differentiation between the vegetation at the western and eastern borders of the park. The trees on the western end are more thinly distributed, whilst those in the eastern portion are more lush with a grassy floor.

Native trees such as Paperbarks, She-oaks and Bottlebrush have been recently planted. Bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii) are also found in the reserve. Furthermore, some of the trees have sustained damages in their branches and trunks. Pine logs and wharf timbers are used to enclose the car park space.^[7]

Fauna

The reserve contains Australian animals, namely birds, such as, Australian Magpie, Galah, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Eastern Rosella and Noisy Miner. Brushtail possums have been spotted in the park, but there haven't been any records of recent^[when?] sightings. Frogs and lizards were^[when?] also a common sightings once.^[8]

References

^ Clouston (1999). Fairfield Open Space Strategy prepared for Fairfield City Council.
^ George, V. (1991). Fairfield – A History of the District (Second ed.). Fairfield City Council.
^ Recreation Needs Assessment Study prepared for Fairfield City Council. 1997. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Strategic Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2010. Fairfield City Council. 1999.
^ Bannerman, S. A.; Hazelton, P. A. (1990). Soil Landscapes of the Penrith 1:100 000 Sheet (And the accompanying map by Hazelton P. A., Bannerman, S. M., and Tille, P. J. (1989)). Sydney: Soil Conservation Service of NSW.
^ Robinson, L. (1991). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. Sydney: Kangaroo Press.
^ Fairley, A.; Moore, P. (1995). Native Plants of Sydney District – an identification guide. Sydney: Kangaroo Press.
^ Management Plan for Fairfield City 1999-2003. Fairfield City Council. 1999.

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v t e Nature reserves of New South Wales, Australia
Central NSW	Abercrombie Caves Arakoola Avisford Barton Binnaway Boomi Boomi West Borenore Caves Boronga Brigalow Park Budelah Careunga Coolbaggie Copperhannia Dapper Donnybrook Dural Eugowra Freemantle Gamilaroi Girralang Jenolan Caves Kemps Creek Kirramingly Koorawatha Kuma Macquarie Marshes Midkin Mugii Murum-ban Munghorn Gap Narran Lake Pilliga Planchonella The Rock Tollingo Turallo Wambool Weetalibah Winburndale Woggoon Wongarbon Yaegl Yarringully
Hunter and Mid North Coast	Awabakal Baalijin Back River Bagul Waajaarr Bandicoot Island Bird Island Bollanolla Boonanghi Boondelbah Boorganna Bowraville Bretti Brimbin Bugan Burning Mountain Bushy Island Camels Hump Camerons Gorge Cedar Brush Coocumbac Island Coolongolook Cooperabung Creek Coramba Corrie Island Coxcomb Darawank Fifes Knob Fishermans Bend Gads Sugarloaf Ganay Garby Goonook Hexham Swamp Jaaningga Jagun Jasper John Gould Juugawaarri Karuah Kattang Khappinghat Khatambuhl Killabakh Killarney Kooragang Koorebang Kororo Lake Innes Limeburners Creek Little Broughton Island Macquarie Mernot Mills Island Moffats Swamp Monkerai Monkeycot Moon Island Moonee Beach Mount Seaview Muttonbird Island Ngambaa North Rock One Tree Island Pambalong Pee Dee Pulbah Island Queens Lake Rawdon Creek Regatta Island Running Creek Seaham Swamp Seal Rocks Skillion Snapper Island Stormpetrel Talawahl The Castles The Glen Tilligerry Tingira Heights Tomalla Towibakh Valla Wallabadah Wallamba Wallaroo Wallis Island Weelah Willi Willi Caves Wingen Maid Wingham Brush Worimi Yahoo Island Yarravel Yessabah
New England Tablelands	Aberbaldie Ashford Caves Bluff River Bolivia Hill Booroolong Burnt-Down Scrub Deer Vale Demon Duval Georges Creek Gibraltar Guy Fawkes River Imbota Ironbark Jobs Mountain Linton Little Llangothlin Mann River Melville Range Mother Of Ducks Lagoon Mount Hyland Mount Mackenzie Mount Yarrowyck Muldiva Ngulin Serpentine Severn River Stony Batter Creek The Basin Tuggolo Creek Watsons Creek Yina
Northern Rivers	Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Ballina Banyabba Billinudgel Boatharbour Broken Head Brunswick Heads Bungabbee Byrnes Scrub Captains Creek Chambigne Chapmans Peak Clarence Estuary Cook Island Couchy Creek Cudgen Cumbebin Swamp Davis Scrub Flaggy Creek Hattons Bluff Hayters Hill Hogarth Range Hortons Creek Iluka Inner Pocket Julian Rocks Koukandowie Limpinwood Little Pimlico Island Marshalls Creek Moore Park Mororo Creek Mount Neville Mount Nullum Muckleewee Mountain Munro Island North-West Solitary Island North Obelisk North Solitary Island Numinbah Richmond River Sherwood Snows Gully South West Solitary Island Split Solitary Island Stotts Island Susan Island Tabbimoble Swamp Tallawudjah Tuckean Tucki Tucki Tweed Estuary Tyagarah Ukerebagh Uralba Victoria Park Waragai Creek Wilson Wilsons Peak Woodford Island Wooyung
Outback NSW	Big Bush Boginderra Hills Buddigower Cocopara Goonawarra Gubbata Ingalba Jerilderie Kajuligah Kemendok Lake Urana Langtree Ledknapper Loughnan Morrisons Lake Mutawintji Narrandera Nearie Lake Nocoleche Nombinnie Pucawan Pulletop Quanda Round Hill Tarawi The Charcoal Tank Yanga Yathong
South Coast and Highlands	Araluen Badja Swamps Bamarang Barren Grounds Barrengarry Bees Nest Bell Bird Creek Belowla Island Bermaguee Bimberi Binjura Black Andrew Black Ash Bobundara Bogandyera Bondi Gulf Bournda Broulee Island Brundee Swamp Brush Island Burnt School Burra Creek Burrinjuck Cambewarra Range Cecil Hoskins Clarkes Hill Comerong Island Coolumbooka Coornartha Courabyra Cullendulla Creek Cuumbeun Dananbilla Dangelong Devils Glen Downfall Eagles Claw Egan Peaks Ellerslie Five Islands Flagstaff Memorial Good Good Goorooyarroo Gungewalla Hattons Corner Illawong Illunie Ironmungy Jerralong Jingellic Joadja Kangaroo River Kybeyan Meringo Merriangaah Montague Island Mount Clifford Mount Dowling Mudjarn Mullengandra Mundoonen Myalla Nadgee Nadgigomar Narrawallee Creek Nest Hill Ngadang Nimmo Numeralla Oak Creek Parma Creek Paupong Queanbeyan Quidong Razorback Robertson Rodway Saltwater Swamp Scabby Range Scott Stony Creek Strike-a-Light Tabletop Tapitallee Tinderry Tollgate Islands Triplarina Ulandra Undoo Wadjan Wanna Wanna Wee Jasper Wiesners Swamp Wogamia Wollondilly River Woollamia Worrigee Wullwye Yanununbeyan Yaouk Yatteyattah
Sydney and surrounds	Agnes Banks Bents Basin Berkeley Bird Island Castlereagh Central Gardens Brenan Park Chipping Norton Lake Cockle Bay Dalrymple-Hay Dharawal Evans Crown Fairfield Park Precinct Gulguer Grey Box Reserve Lion Island Lake Parramatta Long Island Lower Prospect Canal Reserve Manobalai Mulgoa Muogamarra Newington Pelican Island Pitt Town Prospect Nature Reserve Prospect Hill Rileys Island Rosford Street Reserve Spectacle Island Towra Point Wallumatta Nature Reserve Wamberal Lagoon Wambina Western Sydney Regional Park Wetherill Park Windsor Downs
Protected areas of New South Wales

v t e Parks and gardens in Sydney, Australia
In the Sydney local government area	Balfour Street Park Barangaroo Reserve Belmore Park Centennial Parklands Centennial Park Moore Park Chinese Garden of Friendship The Domain Hyde Park Jessie Street Gardens Macquarie Place Park Observatory Park Paddington Reservoir Prince Alfred Park Redfern Park Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Cove West Archaeological Precinct Sydney Park Victoria Park Wentworth Park Wild Life Sydney Wynyard Park
In all other local government areas	Anderson Park, Neutral Bay Angophora Reserve Astrolabe Park Auburn Botanic Gardens Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Ballast Point Balls Head Reserve Bede Spillane Gardens Ben Buckler Park Bents Basin State Conservation Area Berowra Valley Regional Park Bicentennial Park Birchgrove Park Bradleys Head Brenan Park Brickpit Ring Walk Burwood Park Carss Bush Park Centenary Park Centenary Square Centennial Parklands Centennial Park Moore Park Queen's Park Central Gardens Nature Reserve Chipping Norton Lake Coral Sea Park Fagan Park Fairfield Park Precinct Ferndale Park Fred Hollows Reserve Garawarra State Conservation Area Garigal National Park Garrison Point George Kendall Riverside Park Georges River National Park Grey Box Reserve Heathcote National Park Iloura Reserve Ivanhoe Park Joseph Banks Native Plants Reserve Kamay Botany Bay National Park Kellys Bush Park Koala Park Sanctuary Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park Lake Parramatta Reserve Lane Cove Bushland Park Lane Cove National Park Louise Sauvage Pathway Lower Prospect Canal Reserve Magdala Park McLeod Reserve Moore Reserve Moore Reserve, Oatley Mortdale Memorial Park Muston Park Nielsen Park Nurragingy Reserve Oatley Park Oatley Pleasure Grounds Oatley Point Reserve Oxford Falls Peace Park Parramatta Park Penrith Lakes Regional Park Petersham Park Prince Alfred Square Prospect Hill Prospect Nature Reserve Queen Elizabeth Park Rockdale Bicentennial Park Rofe Park Rosford Street Reserve Rowland Park St Leonards Park St Thomas Rest Park Sydney Harbour National Park Sydney Zoo Tania Park Taronga Zoo Terry Lamb Complex Wadim (Bill) Jegorow Reserve Wallumatta Nature Reserve Walter Burley Griffin Incinerator, Willoughby Waverley Cemetery Western Sydney Parklands Western Sydney Regional Park Wetherill Park Nature Reserve Yellomundee Regional Park Yurulbin Park
Parks and gardens in New South Wales