212 



A USTRALASIA ILL USTRA 77; V. 



through it. Near the principal entrance still stands the tree against which Governor 

 Fitzroy's carriage was dashed when Lady Fitzroy was killed. 



But the largest of all the metropolitan pleasure grounds is the great National Park 

 lying to the south of Port Hacking reserved by the Government of which Sir John 

 Robertson was Premier. The railway to Illawarra skirts it on the west, and makes it 

 accessible at that edge ; but the estate itself occupies nearly the whole area lying 

 between the railway and the sea-coast, its northern boundary being the estuary of Port 

 Hacking, and its southern a line drawn from Wattamola boat-harbour on the coast to 

 the head of the Hacking River. Within these lines an area of about thirty-six thousand 

 three hundred acres is enclosed a territory of infinitely varied beauty, giving on its 

 heights broad plateaux suitable for military camps and manoeuvres ; on its beaches, in 

 numerous little gullies and on open grassy plots, abundance of those situations 

 experienced picnickers seek out ; while on and about the upper reaches of the river are 

 some of the most glorious examples of forest-growth and semi-tropical luxuriance the 

 colony affords. By the expenditure of a little money and some engineering skill, the 

 waters of the upper river have been dammed back at a point eight miles from the 

 cataract head of navigation ; the tides no longer rise, the floods coming down have 

 washed out the salt, and a long fresh-water reach has been constructed, which, sheltered 

 by the high hills and forests on either hand, is charmingly tranquil. A good carriage- 



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A GLIMPSE IX PARKAMATTA PARK. 



drive has been formed along the southern bank, following which the ferns, cabbage-tree 

 palms, cedars and great Australian lilies, which form the most characteristic and beautiful 

 features in Australian semi-tropical vegetation, are passed in abundance ; vines and 

 parasitic creepers make also a grand display, climbing a hundred feet aloft to the top- 

 most boughs of the tallest gums, and dropping thence gigantic tassels. Various other 

 roads have also been made through the Park one striking across from the head-waters 

 of the River to the ocean-beach, bringing the charming little boat-harbour of Wattamola 

 within reach of those who object to the ocean trip. Hitherto, however, there have not 



