Alexander Morrison National Park
National park named for Western Australia's first Government Botanist.
Alexander Morrison National Park lies 207 kilometres north of Perth, within the Shire of Coorow and accessible via the Green Head-Coorow Road. The park is named after Western Australia’s first Government Botanist, Alexander Morrison.
Spanning 8,500 hectares, the park features sandplains and low lateritic breakaways atop sandstones and shales from the Lower Jurassic Cockleshell Gully Formation. Sand heaths dominate the vegetation, though extensive low woodland and mallee typical of the region also occur, particularly in the western sections. Key eucalypts include Powder-barked Wandoo (Eucalyptus accedens) and Mallalie (E. eudesmoides), while the heaths host many regionally typical species, including the rare spiral bush (Spirogardnera rubescens). The northern variant of Banksia vestita is also widespread.
The land was first set aside by the Department of Lands and Surveys under Reserves 26800, 26803, and 26804 on 23 May 1969. Over 1970 and 1971, it was classified as an “A” Class reserve—meaning its purpose could only be changed by an Act of Parliament—and placed under the control of the National Parks Authority of Western Australia. The park received its official name on 8 October 1971. In 1974, the Environmental Protection Authority recommended adding a one-kilometre-wide strip of vacant Crown land along the south side of Green Head-Coorow Road to the reserve, but this was never carried out.
Quick Facts
- Iucn Category
- II
- Location
- Western Australia
- Established
- 1970
- Nearest City
- Coorow
- Governing Body
- Parks and Wildlife Service
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The park's land was set aside by the Department of Lands and Surveys under Reserves 26800, 26803 and 26804 on 23 May 1969. Over 1970 and 1971, the land was classified as an 'A' Class reserve, meaning its purpose could not be changed except by an Act of Parliament, and was vested in the National Parks Authority of Western Australia. The park was officially named on 8 October 1971.
The Environmental Protection Authority recommended in 1974 that a one-kilometre-wide strip of vacant Crown land on the south side of Green Head-Coorow Road be added to the reserve – however, this was not actioned.
Reader's Guide
Alexander Morrison National Park preserves 8,500 hectares of sandplains and low lateritic breakaways over sandstones and shales of the Lower Jurassic Cockleshell Gully Formation. Its sand heaths are the dominant vegetation, with extensive stands of low woodland and mallee, particularly in the western parts. Prominent eucalypt species include Powder-barked Wandoo and Mallalie, while the heaths contain rare species such as spiral bush. The park also hosts the northern variant of Banksia vestita. Its significance lies in protecting a representative sample of the region's unique flora and geology, and in commemorating Alexander Morrison, the first Government Botanist of Western Australia.
Did You Know?
- The park is named for Alexander Morrison, the first Government Botanist of Western Australia.
- A 1974 recommendation to add a one-kilometre-wide strip of vacant Crown land to the reserve was not actioned.
More in IUCN Category II 1-24
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