Mt Warning - Peach's Australia December 1975

"Greetings from the Morning of Australia"

The final episode of Peach's Australia in 1975 was titled "The Morning of Australia". The summit and glorious views from and to Mt Warning were featured. In the opening moments, Bill is seen walking up the last few steps of the track onto a grassy knoll on the summit on what must have been a very quiet day (or perhaps there was heavy use of hairspray!). There are no lookouts as yet and the vegetation is quite sparse in contrast to the current state (see below) where low trees have taken over.

Peach's Australia Broadcast December 9, 1975

Since 1975 the summit has been visited by about 3-4 million visitors. The footage and comparison to the current state of the track demonstrates how little environmental impact those visitors have had. In fact it looks lusher now than it did nearly half a century ago.

The short clip above from the episode obtained from the ABC is published under fair dealing provisions of the copyright ACT.

Some screenshots below and a 2020 view.

Mt Warning Summit 1975

Grassy Knoll at the summit of Mt Warning, 1975

Mt Warning Summit view 2020 - source

Episode Description December 1975

In their "Wollumbin National Park Closure – Communications and Engagement Plan" NPWS claim "Current generations of Aboriginal Elders and community representatives see it as their responsibility to ensure sacred sites are protected and the traditional Lore and associated cultural protocols are upheld by all people. Desecration, litter and toileting, particularly around the Summit is causing unacceptable physical and cultural impacts and damage."

Looking at the 1975 and 2020 images that show the summit looking in great condition I'm calling BS on claims about "Desecration, litter and toileting, particularly around the Summit". It is increasingly clear both NPWS and the Wollumbin Consultative Group spend very little time in the park and alot of time making things up.

Just about everything NSW NPWS say about Mt Warning is a lie.

(Looking at the pristine state of Bill's White shirt and considering the 4.4km walk to get there the normal method, I suspect the helicopter likely dropped him and camera man off on top.)

Comments

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Right to Climb

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