The Mutawintji National Park, formerly the Mootwingee National Park, is a protected national park that is located in the Far West region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The national park is situated approximately west of Sydney and about north-east of .

In 1998, Mutawintji National Park, Mutawintji Historic Site and Mutawintji Nature Reserve were all transferred to Mutawintji Local Aboriginal Land Council, holding the land on behalf of the Malyangapa, Wilyakali, Wanyuparlku and Pantjikali people. The three sites were then leased back to NSW National Parks, and are now managed in collaboration with the Mutawintji Board of Management. This agreement was the first of its kind in New South Wales.

Features and location

thumb|left|Rock art at Mutawintji National Park. Etched stone emu. 1976

The rugged, mulga-clad Byngnano Range is dissected by colourful gorges, rockpools and creek beds lined with red gums. Scattered among the caves and overhangs are Aboriginal rock art and engravings.

In 1979, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife purchased and fenced , in the Coturaundee Ranges, now part of Mutawintji National Park, for the conservation and protection of the yellow-footed rock wallaby.

Follow-up funding of fox eradication in the reserve ensured the survival of this last population of yellow-footed rock-wallabies in New South Wales. Of the wild animals, wedge-tailed eagle, peregrine falcon, short-billed correllas, zebra finches, budgerigars, apostle birds and magpies can also be found here.

The park also protects Mutawintji Historic Site, containing one of the best collections of Australian Aboriginal rock art.

See also

  • Protected areas of New South Wales

References

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File:Hand stencils. Mootwingee. 1976.jpg|Hand stencils. Mootwingee.

File:Etched rock figures. Mutawintji National Park.jpg|Etched rock figures. Mutawintji National Park

File:Waterhole, Mootwingee.jpg|Waterhole, Mootwingee

File:Rock etchings. Mootwingee.jpg|Rock etchings. Mootwingee

File:Hand stencil in rock overhang, Mootwingi.jpg|Hand stencils in rock overhang, Mootwingee

File:Mootwingee waterhole.jpg|Mootwingee waterhole

File:Ancient rock etchings. Mootwinjee.jpg|Ancient rock etchings. Mootwinjee

File:Etched human-like figures. Mootwingee.jpg|Etched human-like figures. Mootwingee

File:Kangaroos etched on rocks. Mootwingee.jpg|Kangaroos etched on rocks. Mootwingee

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  • The Archaeology of Mootwingee, Western New South Wales by F. D. McCarthy and N. W. G. Macintosh. Records of the Australian Museum, VOL. XXV, No. 13, 1962, pp.&nbsp;249–298.