Kroombit Tops National Park
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = protected
| name = Kroombit Tops National Park
| state = qld
| iucn_category = II
| image = Griffiths Creek Campground, Kroombit Tops National Park.jpg
| caption = Griffiths Creek Campground, Kroombit Tops National Park
| image_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|24|24|03|S|150|57|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| relief = yes
| map_alt =
| nearest_town_or_city = Biloela
| area = 74.6
| area_footnotes =
| established = 1974
| established_footnotes =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| visitation_footnotes =
| managing_authorities = Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service
| url = www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/kroombit-tops/index.html
}}
Kroombit Tops is a national park in Central Queensland, Australia.{{Cite web|date=2007-02-05|title=Kroombit Tops National Park|url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/kroombit-tops|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-11|website=Parks and forests|publisher=Queensland Government|language=en-AU|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119001950/https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/kroombit-tops}} It is between Monto and Calliope. It is two parts. The largest part is within the localities of Tablelands, Valentine Plains, Cania and Boyne Valley, while the smaller part is in the locality of Mount Alma.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=11 March 2021}} It is 399 km northwest of Brisbane. Cania Gorge National Park is located approximately 25 km to the south.
In February 1945, an American Liberator Bomber, "Beautiful Betsy", crashed into what is now Kroombit Tops National Park.{{cite web|last=Dunn|first=Peter|title=CRASH OF A B-24D LIBERATOR "BEAUTIFUL BETSY" KROOMBIT TOPS FOREST NEAR BILOELA ON 26 FEBRUARY 1945|url=http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld89.htm|work=www.ozatwar.com|access-date=30 January 2013|archive-date=13 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513044831/http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld89.htm|url-status=live}} The wreckage was discovered on 2 August 1994.
Recreational activities conducted in the park include birdwatching, off-road driving and bushwalking. Camping is permitted.
Fauna
The park provides refuge for the Kroombit tinker frog, which has only been found within the park.{{cite web |url=http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/kroombit-tops-national-park/index.cfm |title=Kroombit Tops National Park |publisher=Tourism Queensland |access-date=9 November 2010 |archive-date=12 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312082020/http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/kroombit-tops-national-park/index.cfm |url-status=live }} The species is so rare that estimates of their number only range in the hundreds;{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/17/2493696.htm |title=Search for the Kroombit tinkerfrog |author=Jacquie Mackay |access-date=9 November 2010 |date=17 February 2009 |work=ABC Capricornia |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }} {{as of|November 2020|lc=yes}}, it was estimated fewer than 200 remained in the wild, all in various discrete areas in the rainforest. However, in the same month, the first froglet of this species was bred in captivity at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, raising hopes that it may be saved from extinction.{{cite web | last=Stünzner | first=Inga | title=Endangered Kroombit tinker frog bred in captivity for first time after 20 years of trying | website=ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) | date=15 November 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-16/first-kroombit-tinker-frog-bred-in-captivity/12877268 | access-date=26 December 2020 | archive-date=27 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201227050139/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-16/first-kroombit-tinker-frog-bred-in-captivity/12877268 | url-status=live }}
In 2013, a new species of marsupial, the silver-headed antechinus, was described, also only found in the national park.{{cite journal|title=A new dasyurid marsupial from Kroombit Tops, south-east Queensland, Australia|journal=Zootaxa|year=2013 |oclc=49030618|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.3746.2.1|pmid=25113476 |url=http://eprints.qut.edu.au/69683/|access-date=1 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092323/http://eprints.qut.edu.au/69683/|url-status=live|last1=Baker |first1=A. M. |last2=Mutton |first2=T. Y. |last3=Hines |first3=H. B. |volume=3746 |pages=201–239 }}
A small population of brumbies roams the park; they are sometimes mustered to reduce numbers.{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200301/s767712.htm |title=Minister denies Kroombit brumby shoot plans |access-date=9 November 2010 |date=22 January 2003 |work=ABC News Online |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
Abundant in the park is the Kroombit Tops Assassin Spider (Austrarchaea alani).{{Cite Q|Q21192137|doi-access=free}}
Crash site
File:B-24D Liberator Bomer Beautiful Betsy.jpg
On 2 August 1994, the wreckage of a United States Army Air Forces Consolidated B-24D Liberator, Beautiful Betsy, was discovered in the park. The aircraft had gone missing in stormy weather on 26 February 1945 while on a "Fat Cat" run from Darwin to Brisbane - transporting men and supplies as part of a regular flight.Michael V. Nelmes Tocumwal to Tarakan : Australians and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator Belconnen. Banner Books, 1994. Eight servicemen lost their lives; six of the men were American aviators and two were British Royal Air Force Spitfire pilots. The crash site is well-presented, with a plaque erected by National Parks (approx {{Coord|-24.46441|150.91426|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Wreck site of Beautiful Betsy}}).{{Cite news |last=Fraser |first=Norman |date=18 March 2015 |title=Sad ending to Beautiful Betsy wartime mystery |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/gladstone/sad-ending-to-beautiful-betsy-wartime-mystery/news-story/72bb6c250a03e6c56491dfd5cd1c1e33 |access-date=17 February 2024 |work=The Courier-Mail}}{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Peter |title=26 February 1945 - Crash of a B-24D Liberator, "Beautiful Betsy", in Kroombit Tops Forest near Biloela |url=https://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld89.htm |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=Australia @ War}}{{Cite web |title=Kroombit Tops National Park map |url=https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0016/160432/kroombit-tops-map.pdf |access-date=17 February 2024 |website=Parks and forests |publisher=Queensland Government}}{{cite news |date=31 August 1994 |title=Beautiful Betsy no longer lost |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118266266 |accessdate=17 February 2024 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia |volume=69 |issue=21,686}}{{cite news |date=20 October 1994 |title=Bush gives up wartime secret |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article267062270 |accessdate=17 February 2024 |newspaper=Army |location=Australia, Australia |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia |issue=867}}
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See also
{{Portal|Queensland}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Kroombit Tops National Park}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045021/http://www.boynevalley.org.au/images/maps/kroombit.pdf Kroombit Mud Map at boynevalley.org.au]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070829131913/http://www.calliope.qld.gov.au/Council/CorpServices/NewsMedia/pdf/kroombit.pdf Kroombit and "Beautiful Betsy"]
- [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/beautiful-betsy-liberator-lost Beautiful Betsy – A Liberator Lost], John Oxley Library blog. State Library of Queensland
{{Central Queensland}}
{{National Parks of Queensland}}
Category:National parks of Central Queensland