What is Werakata National Park?
'''Werakata National Park''' is a national park in the east of the [[Australia|Australian]] state of [[New South Wales]], 115 km north of [[Sydney]], in the Hunter River region The park is divided into three parts, which are to the northeast, east and southeast of the city of [[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]]. <ref>Steve Parish: ''Australian Touring Atlas''. Steve Parish Publishing Pty. Ltd. Archerfield QLD (2007). ISBN 978174193232-4. S. 23</ref> South of the park is the separate ''Werakata State Conservation Area''. <ref>{{Cite web |title=''Werakata State Conservation Area''. Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water. Government of New South Wales |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N1105 |access-date=2021-09-21 |archive-date=2014-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006151323/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/NationalParks/parkHome.aspx?id=N1105 |url-status=dead }}</ref> == History == Werakata National Park was opened on 26. February 1999 from a 1130 acres of ''Cessnock State Forest'' (State Forest No. 874) formed. On the 1st January 2003 came another 478 acres from the state forest, as well as the ''Aberdare State Forest'' (State Forest No. 981) with 531 hectares.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.werakata.org.au/history.html |title=''History of Werakata National Park''. Friends of Werakata National Park |access-date=2021-09-21 |archive-date=2021-09-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921082549/https://www.werakata.org.au/history.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ''Werakata State Conservation Area'' with 2257 hectare area was created in 2007. The Hunter River area was inhabited by the Aboriginal countries of ''Awabakal'', ''Worimi'', ''Wonnarua'', ''Geawegal'', ''Birripai'' and ''Darkinjung'', but little is known about their use of the land near what is now the national park after European settlement in the 19th century. In the 19th century, forestry was practiced and sawmills were built in and near today's park. Most of the wood