Muogamarra Nature Reserve in Sydney's northern outskirts is celebrating its 90th birthday by welcoming more than 4,700 nature enthusiasts during its 2024 Open Season.
The 'Muogamarra Sanctuary' was established in 1934 before being added to the state's National Park reserve in 1969.
Each year it opens to the public for six weeks to enable people to see and learn about its native beauty and Aboriginal heritage.
This year's Muogamarra Open Season, from 17 August to 22 September, has sold out, with all 4,786 tickets snapped up. Father's Day on 1 September was as popular as ever, with many families enjoying guided tours and self-guided walks.
Muogamarra protects more than 900 native plants, including wildflowers such as waratahs, majestic angophoras, old-man banksias, pink boronias and delicate native orchids, which are in bloom when the reserve is open to the public in August and September.
The nature reserve is also home to 14 species of native mammals, including the swamp wallaby, brush tail possum and echidnas, while birdwatchers may glimpse a soaring wedge-tail eagle or the endangered glossy black-cockatoo.
The landscape and sites remain significant to local Aboriginal people as connection to Country and for passing on knowledge to future generations. The reserve contains evidence of Aboriginal heritage including engravings, grinding grooves and shell middens.
Walking tracks around the nature reserve offer views of the Hawkesbury River and Berowra Creek, as well as expansive vistas of Bar, Milson, Long and Spectacle islands.
Muogamarra was established by conservationist and railway engineer John Duncan Tipper, who had a passion to safeguard the area's native flora and fauna. He named the site after an Awabakal word understood to mean 'preserve for the future'.
Tipper set up essential infrastructure including a volunteer bushfire brigade and an artefact display, before handing the site to the NSW Government in 1953.
Since its inception in 1934, public access has been restricted to preserve the area's high conservation values. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service continues to open the reserve for a short period during wildflower season in honour of J D Tipper's early vision.
Quote attributable to Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe:
"Every year Muogamarra Nature Reserve is open to the public for just six weeks to allow nature lovers to visit this unique area.
"I want more people to know about this treasure, so they can get their hands on a ticket next year.
"It's home to more than a dozen native animals and more than 900 plants, including magnificent wildflowers.
"For 90 years, volunteers have been looking after this precious reserve just north of Sydney. I would like to thank each and every one of them for their hard work and dedication to protect this treasure."
