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The South West Slopes is a region predominantly in New South Wales, Australia. It covers the lower inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range extending from north of Cowra through southern NSW into western Victoria. More than 90% of the region is in the state of New South Wales and it occupies about 10% of that state.

South West Slopes New South Wales
Localities around South West Slopes: Orana Central West Central Tablelands Riverina South West Slopes Southern Tablelands Riverina Snowy Mountains

Bioregion

The south western slopes bioregion covers the lower inland slopes of the Great Dividing Range extending from north of Cowra through southern NSW into eastern Victoria. More than 90% of the region is in the state of New South Wales and it occupies about 10% of that state – more than 80,000 km².[1][2]

The bioregion includes parts of the Murray, Murrumbidgee, Lachlan and Macquarie River catchments.[3]

The region can be divided into two sub-regions: [4]

• Northern Inland Slopes subregion
• Lower Slopes subregion

Protected areas within the bioregion

The south western slopes of NSW are some of the most highly cleared and altered lands in the state. Native vegetation remains generally only in small, isolated patches. Substantial clearing continues. Less than 2% of the bioregion is protected as reserves. Conservation efforts are focussing on landholder stewardship agreements.[4][5]

• National Parks: Benambra National Park, Conimbla National Park, Goobang National Park, Livingstone National Park, Minjary National Park, Nangar National Park, Weddin Mountains National Park, Woomargama National Park
• Nature reserves: Avisford Nature Reserve, Big Bush Nature Reserve, Boginderra Hills Nature Reserve, Buddigower Nature Reserve, Burrinjuck Nature Reserve, Copperhannia Nature Reserve, Dananbilla Nature Reserve, Dapper Nature Reserve, Downfall Nature Reserve, Ellerslie Nature Reserve, Eugowra Nature Reserve, Flagstaff Memorial Nature Reserve, Ingalba Nature Reserve, Koorawatha Nature Reserve, Mudjarn Nature Reserve, Mullengandra Nature Reserve, Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, Narrandera Nature Reserve, Nest Hill Nature Reserve, Pucawan Nature Reserve, Razorback Nature Reserve, Tabletop Nature Reserve, The Charcoal Tank Nature Reserve, The Rock Nature Reserve, Ulandra Nature Reserve, Wiesners Swamp Nature Reserve
• Historic sites: Hill End Historic Site, Yuranighs Aboriginal Grave Historic Site

Human settlement

The South Western Slopes was occupied by the Wiradjuri people, the largest Aboriginal language group in NSW.[6]

Towns within the bioregion from Albury in the south to Dunedoo in the northeast, include Wagga Wagga, Junee, Cootamundra, Tumut, Tumbarumba, Gundagai and Young. Griffith lies just outside the western boundary and Crookwell lies just outside the eastern boundary of the bioregion.[1]

Local Government Areas included in the bioregion:

• Mid-Western Regional Council – townships of Rylstone (on the border) and Mudgee
• Dubbo Regional Council
• Cabonne Shire including the town of Molong
• Parkes Shire
• Forbes Shire
• Weddin Shire including the town of Grenfell
• Bland Shire, including the town of West Wyalong
• Hilltops Council including the town of Young
• Temora Shire
• Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council
• Snowy Valleys Council
• City of Wagga Wagga
• City of Albury
• Greater Hume Shire

Important Bird Area

An area of 25,653 square kilometres (9,905 sq mi), largely coincident with the bioregion, has been identified by BirdLife International as the South-west Slopes of NSW Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports a significant wintering population of endangered swift parrots and most of the largest population of vulnerable superb parrots, as well as populations of painted honeyeaters and diamond firetails.[7]

Most of the site is modified wheat-growing and sheep-grazing country with only vestiges of its original vegetation. Remnant patches of woodland and scattered large trees, especially of mugga ironbark, apple box, grey box, white box, yellow box, red box, yellow gum, river red gum and Blakely's red gum, still provide habitat for the parrots. Protected areas within the site include several nature reserves and state forests, as well as the Livingstone and Weddin Mountains National Parks, and Tarcutta Hills Reserve.

Climate

Mean annual temperatures in the region are cool to mild; ranging from 8 °C (46 °F) to 16 °C (61 °F) depending on altitude and latitude, with an annual rainfall of 500 millimetres (20 in) on the far western plain to as much as 1,700 millimetres (67 in) on the western face of the Snowy Mountains.[8]

Snowfalls are common on the higher slopes above an altitude of approximately 600 metres (2,000 ft) in the southernmost boundary of the region; and above 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) in the northernmost boundary, but may occur as low as 300 metres (980 ft) or less. Snow has been recorded on a few occasions to fall and settle as low as Albury and Wagga Wagga, 165 metres (541 ft) and 180 metres (590 ft) respectively. Sleet moreover is usually a widespread occurrence throughout the region, even in the lowland areas—especially in the south. Depending on latitude, precipitation peaks in either winter or spring; the more southern areas show a distinct winter peak, as opposed to one of springtime. High summer to mid autumn is usually the driest period and is prone to severe drought.

This region features the greatest seasonal range of maximum temperatures than any other in Australia: on account of being windward of the Great Dividing Range, with the prevailing westerlies making for particularly low maximum temperatures in winter; jointly with its far inland location, which strengthens heatwaves in summer. Therefore, these areas have a climate that is more similar to that of Adelaide and Perth, than the proximate cities like Sydney and Wollongong, with their wet winters and relatively dry summers.

Forecast area for Bureau of Meteorology

The south west slopes forecast area used by the Bureau of Meteorology includes Young and Tumbarumba. The area is smaller than that defined as a bioregion by the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.[9]

References

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