Publications
S.R. Morton, J. Short and R.D. Barker
with an Appendix by G.F. Griffin and G. Pearce
Refuge area Geikie Gorge
Biogeographic region Dampierland
Type of refuge Gorge/wetland
Lat./Long. 18o 05’ S / 125o 43’ E
Quality of refuge Significant (3)
Area (km2) <100Chief refuge value
A major drought refuge for freshwater fishes and marine fishes that occur well inland in the Fitzroy River4, and also provides habitat for endangered bird species.
General description
A permanent river pool within a gorge where the Fitzroy River cuts through the limestone at the junction between the Oscar and Geikie Ranges. The gorge pool is about 13 km long and 100 m wide. Cliffs of limestone rise more than 50 m above the dry-season water level; the water is fresh to a depth of 15 m4. Fringing forest along the river includes two species of cadjeput Melaleuca leucadendron and M. argentea, river gums Eucalyptus camuldulensis, freshwater mangroves Barringtonia acutangula, the figs Ficus racemosa, F. coronulata and F. hispida, and screw pines Pandanus sp. Tropical reed Phragmites karka and native passionfruit Passiflora foetida are present on the banks3.
ANZECC-listed species
Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae (E)5.
Regional endemics
None identified.
Relict species
None identified.
Other significant species
Purple-crowned fairy-wrens Malurus coronatus occur in dense riverside vegetation4, 5, and red goshawks Erythrotriorchis radiatus are recorded5. Orange horseshoe-bats Rhinonicterus aurantius occur in a cave within the gorge4. There are 27 waterbird species recorded, 5 listed under treaties. Eighteen species of fish occur, including barramundi Lates calcarifer, archerfish Toxotes oligolepsis, Leichardt’s sawfish Pristiopsis leichardti, and coach-whip stingray Himantura arnak. There are large numbers of freshwater crocodiles Crocodylus johnstoni1, 2, 3, 4. See Williams for freshwater fauna of the area5.
Key threats
None current, but possibly water diversion (dam upstream), water pollution (visitor use, boats), siltation (from cattle grazing within catchment), or impacts of high tourist numbers on fauna and flora4.
Land tenure
Geikie Gorge National Park.
Key references
1. Allen (1982)
2. Australian Heritage Commission (1989)
3. Burbidge et al. (1991)
4. Jaensch and Lane (1993)
5. Williams (1979)
