The Wollumbin Caldera

Text in progress, apologies.

——

A ‘Caldera’ is the geographical remnant of an extinct volcano.

… the soft red volcanic soil washed away over eons, revealing the circular landscape feature of the outer wall of the caldera, formed from a harder magna material inducted below the surface, with the central hardstone ‘plug’ of the volcano remaining as Mount Warning / Wollumbin.

A particular ecosystem existed within the geographical landscape of the Wollumbin Caldera, for eons, different from the surrounding landscape, a biosphere of unique and diverse lifeforms, a wonder to behold, almost completely destroyed for the extraction of ‘timber’ for the hardwood sleepers of the London underground railway system.

The ecology of the Wollumbin Caldera today includes remnants of the caldera rainforest which has historically occupied this particular geographical formation, a high biodiversity ecosystem, one of the three top biodiversity hotspots remaining in Australia today.

The Wollumbin Caldera covers an area of approximately 1500 sq km and supports around 1,250 types of native plants. 

The area also supports one of the highest vertebrate biodiversities of any Australian region.

The Wolumbin Caldera is so rich in significant native flora and fauna that it has received World Heritage status. 

The area includes the rainforest areas of the Border Ranges and Nightcap National Parks, Mebbin and Mooball National Parks and Limpinwood and Numinbah Nature Reserves.

Welcome to the Caldera.

Share