Publication Date

1971

Series Number

Fisheries Report VII (7)

Publisher

Department of Fisheries and Fauna Western Australia

City

Perth

Abstract

Millstream has long been recognised as an unique and outstanding area, both scenically and from a biological aspect. The area of prime interest consists of a series of deep pools in the bed of the Fortescue River (about 15 miles long including Gregory Gorge) and the springs and streams which feed them. Most of the springs are in the sides of the river bed but one of the largest is about 1% miles to the south. This feeds a swift flowing stream running north into the river bed.

The first Europeans to see the area were the exploring party led by F. T. Gregory in 1861. He noted the palm trees and the fast running stream entering the river from the large springs near where the Millstream Station Homestead is now situated. The stream, he noted, was "strong enough to supply a large mill" hence the name of the area. (Gregory and Gregory, 1884; P. 63.)

Specimens of the fauna and flora were first collected by Gregory in 1861. Since then three different biological expeditions have visited the area as well as a number of transient parties. The first was F. Lawson Whitlock, who collected birds between July and November, 1922. (Whitlock, 1923.) The second was a Western Australian Museum Expedition in July 1958 (Ride, 1959) and the third, which was organised by the Department of Fisheries and Fauna, stayed there in September, 1969. This party consisted of R. J. McKay, Western Australian Museum; M. I. H. Brooker, Western Australian Herbarium; and T. Evans, R. F. Dear and A. A. Burbidge, Department of Fisheries and Fauna. The party also investigated a number of other fresh water situations in the Hamersley Range area in order to obtain comparative data. They were Kyalina Pool in the Hooley River and pools in Wittenoom Gorge, Dales Gorge and Hamersley Gorge.

Number of Pages

24

Keywords

Millstream, Fauna, Flora, Western Australia

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Aquaculture and Fisheries | Botany | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Plant Sciences

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