Cunninghamia 1 (1): 79-113 (1981) 
79 
VEGETATION SURVEY OF BRISBANE WATER NATIONAL 
PARK AND ENVIRONS 
J. S. Benson and H. Fallding 
(Accepted for publication 5.12.1980) 
ABSTRACT 
Benson, J. S.* and Fallding, H. (National Herbarium of New South Wales, Royal 
Botanic Gardens, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000) 1981. Vegetation survey of 
Brisbane Water National Park and Environs. Cunninghamia 1 (1): 79-113. The vege¬ 
tation of Brisbane Water National Park and environs is described and mapped at a 
1:50 000 scale, using air photo interpretation and ground survey. Fifteen plant 
communities are described in detail. The number of communities reflects the diversity 
of the region; this is mainly determined by physical factors such as geology, topography 
and proximity to the sea. 657 plant species are recorded. Ten species are 
considered to be rare or at risk and several others are uncommon or restricted in dis¬ 
tribution. 
INTRODUCTION 
The Sydney region is floristically rich and varied. Some plant habitats however 
are very localized, and many species show very restricted distribution patterns. 
With the continuous exploitation and clearance of natural vegetation for development 
the National Parks and nature reserves of the area become ‘islands’ in a sea of 
altered habitats. They may be the only areas where representative samples of 
ecosystems can be preserved and rare species protected. The Brisbane Water 
National Park and its adjacent relatively undisturbed bushland areas provide an 
excellent example of the vegetation typical of coastal areas of the Sydney region. 
The present account arises from a vegetation survey undertaken at the request of 
the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service to provide basic 
information on the vegetation of the region. The aims of the survey were firstly, 
to describe the plant communities in the region and discuss their distribution and 
importance, and secondly, to study species composition and distribution and identify 
the uncommon and rare species requiring protection or particular types of manage¬ 
ment. 
THE STUDY AREA 
The Brisbane Water National Park, (lat. 33° 30' S, long. 151° 15' E) is an area 
of c. 7 800 ha, 40 km north of Sydney. The survey also covered extensive areas of 
natural vegetation of the upper Mooney Mooney Creek catchment (c. 3 000 hectares 
in area) directly north of Brisbane Water National Park, and the Strickland State 
Forest (474 hectares) north-east of the Park (Figure 1). 
Climate 
The area receives an annual rainfall of about 1 250 mm, with a relatively wet 
season between January and June, during which about 60% of the annual rainfall is 
received. March is the wettest month, with a mean monthly rainfall of 147 mm, 
while October is the driest, with a mean monthly rainfall of 76 mm (data for Gosford, 
Bureau of Meteorology, 1979). Temperatures in the area are fairly mild, with an 
average maximum of 27° C in summer and 17° C in winter. Average minimum 
temperatures range from about 17° C in summer to 4° C in winter. 
Present address: Resources Section, New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, 
Kent Street, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000. 
