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Crown of Newport Reserve is literally just down the road from us. Here's some
Pittwater Council information about its significance:
Crown of Newport Reserve
Description and Features
The Crown of Newport Reserve is located in a sheltered gully between Newport Beach and Bilgola Plateau on Barrenjoey
Peninsula. It covers 4.12ha. The Reserve which comprises a main body and three branching arms, is bounded on all sides by
residential properties and a grassed field on the lower southern arm. McMahon’s Creek flows through the Reserve, over
huge sandstone boulders, and features a waterfall and a steep rainforest gully.
Whilst the boundaries of this reserve have been affected by weed infestation, a large proportion of the Crown of Newport is
in almost pristine condition. It is hard not be moved by the grandeur of this giant forest of Coachwoods and Cabbage Tree
palms. Lichens and Ferns at your feet, and majestic trees at every turn. The built pathway is almost unnoticeable as it slowly
winds its way up the escarpment, past the waterfall theatre, gradually opening up into the sunlight at the very top.
Plants
Four vegetation types occur in the Crown of Newport - Coachwood Closed-forest, Newport Bangalay Woodland, Spotted
Gum Forest and Hawkesbury Sandstone Open-forest.
141 native plant species have been recorded in this reserve and include regionally significant species such as the Cabbage
Tree Palm, Murrogun and Brown Beech and locally significant Bolwarra, Snow-wood and Crabapple.
The majestic forest is dominated by Coachwood, Lilly Pilly, Turpentine, Port Jackson Fig, Sandpaper Fig, Spotted Gum,
Grey Ironbark, Grey Gum and Red Bloodwood.
Smaller trees and shrubs include Forest Oak, Blueberry Ash, Black Wattle, Broad-leaved Geebung, Hairpin Banksia and
Mountain Devil. The groundlayer includes species such as Saw Sedge, Sweet Sarsparilla, Creeping Shield Fern, Gristle Fern,
King Fern and Soft Bracken. Prevalent vines are Water Vine, Sweet Sarsparilla, Twining Guinea Flower and Prickly
Supplejack.
Animals
The Crown of Newport provides habitat for the endangered populations of Koalas and Squirrel Gliders on the Barrenjoey
Peninsula, as well as the Long-nosed Bandicoot, Sugar Gliders and Ring-tailed Possums. The reserve acts as a wildlife
refuge and is an important link in local wildlife corridors.
Rocky outcrops and the creekline provide habitat for frogs and reptiles. The Reserve also provides homes for species such
as White-browed Scrubwren, Spotted Pardalotes, Red Bellied Black Snake, Golden-crowned Snake, Blue Tongue Lizard,
Eastern Water Dragons and Fresh Water Eels, all of which have been recently recorded.
Crown of Newport has been given a Category 1 rating because of its regional conservational significance.
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