AUST RA L IA'S W O RLD HE R ITAG E P LACE S
GREATER BLUE MOUNTAINS INFORMATION SHEET
Quick Facts
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The Greater Blue Mountains are between 60 and 180 kilometres inland from central Sydney, New
South Wales and cover over 10,000km2 of mountainous terrain, most of which is wilderness.
The name comes from the beautiful blue haze that can be seen from a distance when eucalyptus
trees release warmed oils into the atmosphere.
This area contains the Wollemi pine, one of the world’s rarest tree species
 Each of Australia’s 17 World Heritage Places are also on Australia’s National Heritage List.
Why are the Greater Blue Mountains of World Heritage value?
The Greater Blue Mountains was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000 for its natural values.
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It helps us understand the evolution and development of plants and plant
communities
There are 101 species of eucalypts found in the Greater Blue Mountains and 12 of these occur only
in the Sydney sandstone region. This eucalypt-dominated ecosystem has evolved over millions of
years of climatic, geological, biological and ecological processes. It tells the story of the evolution of
Australia’s unique eucalypt vegetation and associated communities, plants and animals.
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It contains important habitats where endangered animals and plants live
More than 400 different kinds of animals live in the Greater Blue Mountains. These include
threatened or rare species such as the spotted-tailed quoll, the yellow-bellied glider, the long nosed
potoroo, the green and golden bell frog and the Blue Mountains water skink. The Greater Blue
Mountains also contains an ancient tree that is important to the whole world. The Wollemi pine is
one of the world’s rarest species. In 1994, a parks and wildlife officer noticed the unusual tree. It
turned out to be a ‘living fossil’ dating back to the age of the dinosaurs. These trees were thought
to have been extinct for millions of years.
Challenges and Management
The Greater Blue Mountains is managed by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service
(a division of the New South Wales Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water).
Challenges
Wildfire
Management
The Greater Blue Mountains is one of the most bushfire prone areas in the world.
Fire has a major impact on the number and distribution of plants and animals in the
park and can also cause erosion. Increasing temperatures through climate change
could lead to reduced rainfall and more wildfires. If this happens, the natural beauty
and scientific value of the Greater Blue Mountains will deteriorate. A
comprehensive bushfire management plan is in place to protect life, property and
conserve the park.
Tourism
Tourist activities such as four wheel driving, hiking and camping can have an impact
on the environment. Upgrading tourist facilities, including walking tracks, ensure
that visitors can enjoy the Greater Blue Mountains, while minimising their impact
on the environment.
Endangered
species
Key threats to endangered plants and animals include:
- human impacts
- pollution
- introduced plants and animals.
A recovery plan must be prepared for all endangered and vulnerable plants and
animals to promote recovery. This includes researching and monitoring their food
sources, habitat requirements and identifying the threat of introduced species.
Weeds
Some rugged areas of native bushland are weed free, while in areas with towns,
industry and agriculture weeds are an issue. Weeds compete with native plants and
can dominate and replace them, they destroy the habitat of native animals and can
restrict animal and human access to tracks, creeks and waterholes. A management
plan that identifies weeds and safely removes them without harming the
surrounding environment is now in place.
Read more
www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/blue-mountains/index.html