Unnamed Conservation Park now has a name

Submitted: Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 14:37
ThreadID: 40960 Views:3628 Replies:7 FollowUps:11
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From today's Adelaide Sunday Mail:

"The curiously named The Unnamed Conservation Park in the Great Victoria Desert near the WA/SA Border has finally been given a name."
"But a brief reference in the Government Gazette says "The name assigned to the Unnamed Conservation Park is altered to MAMUNGARI Conservation Park""

I'm guessing they needed that name for future parks :-))
Cheers
phil
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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:13

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:13
I should have added the link to the Park's website, for anyone travelling the Anne Beadell Hwy or the Cook Rd this year.
Mumungari Conservation park
AnswerID: 213840

Reply By: Outnabout David (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:44

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:44
Phil,

Now you will have to do that trip again so that you can say you have been to the MAMUNGARI Conservation Park and to see if it is any different. Guess you would just have to point your vehicle in the general direction and put on auto pilot !
AnswerID: 213847

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:18

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:18
Yep too right David. I didn't get my fix of the GVD last year - had two trips into the Simpson instead.
But that area is beautifully untouched, and nicely remote. And camping amongst the marble gums, and black oaks makes it very un-desert like. Not sure when I'll fit it in this year, maybe on the way to WA.
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Reply By: Richard Kovac - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:55

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 17:55
Hi Phil

I see we still have to wait till the dog goes to the big kennel in the sky (or the one under the tree in the back yard) Ive got to type quietly see sitting next to me..

we hope to get out there one day.. do you know way it took this long to name it?

Richard
AnswerID: 213851

Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:48

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:48
Yeah, pity about no dogs.

I looked up Mark Shephard's excellent book from 1995 called "Great Victoria Desert" which is unfortunately out of print, and came up with the following:

The concept of a nature park in far western SA was first raised in 1967. The SA Pastoral Board looked at the potential for this area for pastoral development, but recommended that the area between 28deg30'S and 28deg07'S should be designated a Flora and Fauna reserve to protect an area of Marble Gum,Kurrajong and Spinifex association. The area was subsequently declared a National Park in 1970 and borders were drawn to include the Marble Gums, the Serpentine Lakes palaeochannel, and myall and mulga on the northern edge of the Nullabor Plain. The park was not given a name. Two years later, the park was reconstituted as "The Unnamed Conservation Park". Its Unnamed tag stuck despite several possible names being suggested. The aboriginal people have numerous names for sites, but no single name is representative of the area as a whole. The Aboriginal word "Mamungarintja" refers to the Serpentine Lakes area and has been suggested, but the Traditional owners have agreed that the park's official title should remain "UnNamed".

The announcement by the Minister was made about 2 weeks ago.
Ministers announcement Link

There is good information out there about the GVD, but it can be hard to find. An excellent small book was also printed last year by the Friends Group:
Shrubs and Trees of the Great Victoria Desert

Cheers
Phil
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Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:14

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:14
Richard

Our dog enjoyed all off the AB and beyond. A great time was had leaning out of the window biting at the passing foliage.

When I applied for a permit I said we weren't stopping in Unnamed (couldnt be bothered sending envelope full of small change) and so no permit was issued. Saw a Landcruiser ute coming towards us and said to missus "Oh chit, here comes a Ranger"...lol. But it was just another bushie with his dog sitting in the passenger seat. Then the dogs saw one another and got excited...lol

No one out there mate, even in peak tourist season. Didn't even bump into Phil...lol

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 18:10

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 18:10
hehehe
Willem,
If thats your dog in the Rig Photo, I'm glad I didn't run into you either :-))
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Reply By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:17

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 18:17
With a name like that, it sounds like the area was called MAMUNGARI long before your ancestors came to Australia.

At least it won't look so silly on our maps any more.
Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:54

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 19:54
Yeah, the name originated from the Serpentine Lakes Area on the SA/WA border, but the announcement said the name meant ‘the place of harmful spirits’ in general terms.

Certainly won't stand out like it used to.
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:39

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:39
Place of harmful spirits? With a name like that it sounds like they are trying to discourage us from going there. Sounds nice from your description Phil.
Motherhen

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Follow Up By: Member - Leigh (Vic) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:52

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 21:52
"Harmfull spirits".....yep, EMU and corrugations!!
It would have to be the best desert in this country by a long shot.
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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 22:21

Sunday, Jan 07, 2007 at 22:21
Motherhen,
Yeah, we have grown to love the GVD, and been there 4 times over the past 5 years. The desert is mostly pristine - hasn't been affected by the past 200 years. It's the biggest desert in Australia; has no rivers or dry watercourses; has very little rainfall but supports some great trees and dense vegetation.

And lots of historical interest, with explorers, the bomb and Rocket stuff , Len Beadell. Its very remote, and you have to be totally sufficient and well prepared to tour there. And you need a bunch of permissions.

The local aboriginal people are very understanding of travellers - we've been fortunate enough to meet up with some for the odd chat.

As for "harmful spirits" - they may the ones that corrugate the roads badly, and force vehicles and trailers to fall apart. Or maybe they are the British spirits who tried to blow it up!

Cheers
phil
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Reply By: Rick (S.A.) - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 09:14

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 09:14
Who is Gary?
Who is Mum / Mam?

Why did Media Mke settle for such a folksy name as Mum and Gary?

hehehehe
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Reply By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 09:23

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 09:23
Hopefully no longer Unnamed and no longer Unexplored and there will be some work on the park's development.

The MT lands are wonderful as you have said, and I hope to spend a long time out there this year.

Cheers
Andrew.
AnswerID: 213954

Follow Up By: Willem - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:17

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:17
They could grade the track for starters....lol

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Member - Andrew W (SA) - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 12:17

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 12:17
I'll let you know if they have any plans ... of course the worst part is out of the park.
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Reply By: Willem - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:27

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 11:27
Thanks Phil, for enlightening us.:-D

I am planning a trip in that direction in 2008. Hoping to drive some little used tracks through the GVD

Cheers
AnswerID: 213968

Follow Up By: Richard Kovac - Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 21:27

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 at 21:27
Hi Willem

I know what you mean regarding the dog,, we will not be stopping :-)

and when you think about it they say no PETS.. Benney's not a pet she's a dog LOL..

Just remember us in 2008 we have a small country retreat you may what to visit LOL..

Richard
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