Ku-ring-gai Bicentennial Park, West Pymble: a guided walk

This short walk will be led by geologist Dr John Martyn, author of Field Guide to the Bushland of the Lane Cove Valley and Rocks and Trees .

This Park contains a basalt dyke in the old, abandoned quarry face of sandstone.  While it is more accessible than most, weed growth obscures the heavy weathering.

It is an excellent example of the thermal effects of super-hot intruded basalt magma on Hawkesbury Sandstone, which has been visibly baked and recrystallised to a hard, white quartzite, once sought after and quarried for heavy duty tasks like road base and railway ballast. The preserved ancient land surface supports diverse vegetation communities.

First in a series of four events by Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment (FOKE) to publicise Ku-ring-gai as a GeoRegion  and the 2022 study of its natural and cultural history published by the Linnean Society of NSW – contributing to the National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival.

Date: Sunday 16 April, 2023

Time: meet at 9:45am for a 10am start, finishing at 12noon

Cost: Free – RSVP to attend

AABR Organiser: Chloë Mason – 0419 811 750

Getting there:

From Lofberg Road, turn into Prince of Wales Drive, past the toilet block.

By public transport – from Turramurra/Pymble station – bus 575 alight Gordon West Public School – 11 min walk.

Meeting point:

Entrance to Ku-ring-gai Bicentennial Park, at BBQ area.

Please wear good walking shoes, bring a bottle of water, snack, sun protection and insect repellent.