28-490: Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is located in the Central Highlands area of Tasmania ( Australia ), 165 kilometres (103 mi) northwest of Hobart . The park contains many walking trails, and is where hikes along the well-known Overland Track usually begin. Major features are Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff in the northern end, Mount Pelion East , Mount Pelion West , Mount Oakleigh and Mount Ossa in
56-588: A booking system and fee for use of the Overland Track over peak periods. Initially the fee was $ 100, but this was raised to $ 150 in 2007, and as at May 2023 is $ 200. The money that is collected is used to finance the park ranger organisation, track maintenance, building of new facilities and rental of helicopter transport to remove waste from the toilets at the huts in the park. The Tasmanian Government has moved to allow development in national parks and conservations areas. An 'In principle' permit has been granted for
84-425: A number of agencies grouped under areas of portfolio responsibility. Each portfolio is led by a Secretary, who reports to one or more government ministers , a member of Parliament. Since reorganisation in 2022 the departmental structure is the following A range of other agencies support the functions of these departments. The Government of Tasmania also owns and operates a number of state-owned companies : As
112-467: A state of Australia, Tasmania is represented in the federal House of Representatives and Senate . Tasmania has five representative in the federal House of Representatives for the electoral divisions of Bass , Braddon , Denison , Franklin , and Lyons . Tasmania also has twelve Senators in line with other states. 29 local government elections are conducted under the Local Government Act using
140-472: Is very diverse and has largely escaped forest fires that have caused neighbouring regions to suffer. Animals present in the park include: Tasmanian pademelons , Bennett's wallabies , quolls , Tasmanian devils , short-beaked echidnas , platypuses , common wombats , possums , forest ravens and currawongs . The park has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it provides habitat for 11 of Tasmania's endemic bird species, as well as for
168-482: The Atlas of Living Australia. Despite their essential roles in underpinning terrestrial ecosystems, fungi are barely recognised as a vital part of Australia's biodiversity. Although Australia has national and state level biodiversity conservation strategies and has ratified international conventions, most overlook fungi, including Tasmania's Natural Heritage Strategy , which only makes one generic reference to fungi. One of
196-631: The Government of Tasmania is the executive branch of the Australian state of Tasmania . The leader of the party or coalition with the confidence of the House of Assembly , the lower house of the Parliament of Tasmania , is invited by the governor of Tasmania to form the executive. The governor appoints the premier of Tasmania . Since 8 April 2022, the premier of Tasmania has been Jeremy Rockliff , leader of
224-462: The Hare-Clark voting system of multi-member proportional representation. Elections for mayor, deputy mayor and half the councillor positions are held during September and October in each uneven numbered year. These include six cities (three in greater Hobart , one covering each of Launceston , Burnie , and Devonport ) and twenty-three municipalities. The largest council (by number of eligible voters)
252-623: The Legislative Council and the House of Assembly . Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council , which consists of the governor and senior ministers, and informally called the Cabinet . In practice, executive power is exercised by the premier of Tasmania upon the advice of the Cabinet, who are appointed by the governor, but who hold office by virtue of their ability to command
280-621: The Liberal Party . The current ministry of Tasmania is the Second Rockliff ministry . Tasmania is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system , a form of parliamentary responsible government based on the model of the United Kingdom . Legislative power rests with the bicameral Parliament of Tasmania , which consists of the governor of Tasmania , and the two chambers:
308-594: The Van Diemen's Land Company . Lake St Clair was sighted by surveyor William Sharland in 1832, with George Frankland leading an expedition to it three years later. During the late 19th century there was an effort to build a railway to the west coast of Tasmania, which at the time was only accessible by boat. Railway engineer Allan Stewart began surveying a route which led up the Mersey Valley , but ran out of money before it could be completed. Parts of his trail were used by
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#1732848177495336-508: The flame and pink robins and the striated fieldwren . The IBA is important as a representative protected area in north-central Tasmania for those species. Fungi are also a part of the Park's biodiversity. While the Management Plan for Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park only mentions fungi in the context of their destructive effects ( Phytophthora cinnamomi and Chalara australis ),
364-614: The 1860s until the collapse of the fur trade in the 1950s, although hunting in the park was declared illegal after 1927. They established huts, including Du Cane and Pine Valley, and burned the land to encourage fresh growth and game. During the same timeframe Pelion Plains was used by sheep and cattle for grazing in the summer, and wild cattle lived in the area until 1948. The cattle were reportedly quite aggressive, and known to attack early bushwalkers. Both Lake St Clair and Cradle Mountain were regarded by European settlers as attractive destinations, with tourist lodges at each location. In
392-419: The 1910s Gustav and Kate Cowle began campaigning for the area from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair to be a national park. It was declared a scenic reserve in 1922, a wildlife reserve in 1927 and its current designation of national park from 1947. During this transition, former trappers began building huts and guiding bushwalkers, including Paddy Hartnett, Weindorfer and Bob Quaile. In the 1970s management of
420-620: The Innes track (est. 1897), which led to the mining town of Rosebery . These tracks encouraged prospecting, and several mines were set up including coal near Barn Bluff, copper in Pelion Plains, Lake Windemere and Commonwealth Creek, tin in Mount Inglis, and tungsten in the Forth Valley. Lake Windemere and Old Pelion huts were established during this mining effort. Trappers worked in the area from
448-519: The Park has a great variety of fungi that perform beneficial ecological roles. In fact, most fungi perform positive rather than negative roles. Even parasitic fungi – often regarded only negatively – are a vital part of healthy ecosystems, regulating ecosystem functions. As primary recyclers of organic matter, saprobic fungi break down fallen branches and leaf litter, making vital nutrients available to other organisms. Other fungi form symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Although rarely acknowledged,
476-563: The annual Bushfest which includes various outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hunting and adventure sports. The event started in 2014 and witnesses a gathering of nearly 4000 people every year. Many lakes are found in the Central Highlands - giving the region the tourist feature of the 'Lakes Region'; they include: 42°12′45″S 146°38′46″E / 42.2124°S 146.646°E / -42.2124; 146.646 Tasmanian Government The Tasmanian Government or
504-501: The area of the married quarters of the community - has become a part of Hydro history, being utilised in the most comprehensive history of the Hydro to date, Heather Fenton's book Ticklebelly Tales . The Central Highlands of Tasmania are home to famous trout fishing lakes and boasts some of the best trout fly fishing found anywhere in the world. The location played host to the 2019 World Fly Fishing Championships . The Central Highlands are on
532-406: The bucket list for many fly fisherman with popular locations including Great Lake, Arthurs Lake, Woods Lake and Pinestock Lagoon. The combined councils of the Central Highlands and the two Midlands councils - the southern and the northern have had for almost a decade a web based portal which combines the areas to a name of Tasmanian heartland . The Central Highlands Council has been organising
560-566: The establishment of an 'eco-friendly' resort at Pumphouse Point at Lake St Clair. The Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park is a significant location of Tasmania's endemic species – 40–55% of the park's documented alpine flora is endemic. Furthermore, 68% of the higher rainforest species recorded in alpine areas in Tasmania are present in the Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park. The park's alpine vegetation
588-452: The great majority of plants in Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park (indeed in the world) form mutually beneficial mycorrhizal relationships with fungi. Given the great diversity of plants, specialist habitats and micro-climates in the park, a great diversity of fungi, including lichens, is also expected to occur there. Several hundred species have already been recorded by field naturalists and interested individuals and can be found in
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#1732848177495616-494: The highland region. Early power developments by Hydro Tasmania in the Central Highlands included the communities of workers who were employed in construction. Significant numbers of the communities were migrants to Australia The Tarraleah community was one established in 1934 which was a significant early community for the Upper Derwent Power Development. The part of Tarraleah known as Ticklebelly Flat -
644-645: The middle and Lake St Clair in the southern end of the park. The park is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area . Cradle Mountain–Lake St Clair National Park lies on the boundary between the Big River and Northern Tasmanian Aboriginal nations. Aboriginal use of the Cradle Mountain dates back to the last ice age (10,000 years ago) and is believed to have been non-permanent, consisting mostly of seasonal hunting excursions during
672-478: The more a conspicuous species found in the wetter parts of the park is the strawberry bracket fungus ( Tyromyces pulcherrimus ). It grows on myrtle beech ( Nothofagus cunninghammii ) and snow gums. The Australian citizen-science organisation, Fungimap is documenting and mapping the distribution of fungi including those that occur in National Parks. Cortinarius metallicus is a mycorrhizal species also found in
700-615: The park passed to the newly formed Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service after the controversial flooding of Lake Pedder . Access from the south (Lake St. Clair) is usually from Derwent Bridge on the Lyell Highway . Northern access (Cradle Valley) is usually via Sheffield , Wilmot or Mole Creek. A less frequently used entrance is via the Arm River Track, from the east. In 2005, the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service introduced
728-573: The park. This area was used to film scenes for the prehistoric life documentaries Walking with Dinosaurs and When Dinosaurs Roamed America . Central Highlands, Tasmania The Central Highlands is a region in Tasmania , Australia where geographical and administrative boundaries closely coincide. It is also known as The Lake Country of Tasmania . The mountains of Central Tasmania are mainly found in four different conservation reserves: The Central Highlands Council incorporates most of
756-547: The summer months. Several artifacts and campsites containing various stone types and tools have been discovered at Pelion Plains and Lake St Clair , and early surveyors reported huts in the area. Aboriginal Tasmanians were persecuted by the European settlers upon their arrival, and the last free Aboriginals in the area were seen between Barn Bluff and Lake Windemere in 1836. Europeans first explored Cradle Mountain in 1827 and 1828 with Joseph Fossey and Henry Hellyer surveying for
784-612: The support of a majority of members of the House of Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Tasmania and a system of subordinate courts. As with all states, upon federation , Tasmania accepted the authority of the federal High Court of Australia to overrule the state judiciary. The Second Rockliff ministry was sworn in on 11 April 2024. The table of ministers can be found below. The Tasmanian Government delivers services, determines policy, and issues regulations through
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