Rainforest Gullies and an Old Arboretum at Strickland State Forest

Overview

Strickland State Forest sits on the Central Coast near Somersby, a little over an hour north of Sydney. It is a relatively small forest at about five square kilometres, but it packs an unusual amount of variety into that area, shifting between heath woodland, dry eucalypt forest, tall eucalypts and pockets of lush rainforest. That mix gives the place a distinctly layered feel, with creek lines, sandstone country and denser shaded sections all close together.

Another part of Strickland’s character comes from its long forestry history. The forest was the site of the first government forest nursery in New South Wales from 1886 to 1890 and the first national forestry training school from 1920 to 1927. Remnant native and exotic plantings from that period survive as an arboretum that ranks among the oldest in Australia.

Highlights

The real appeal of Strickland is the contrast between forest types in such a compact area. One moment the landscape is open and dry with eucalypts overhead, then it tightens into greener, moister gullies where cabbage tree palms and rainforest species take over. Creek lines add to that sense of change and give parts of the forest a cooler, sheltered feel.

Scenically, it is less about big lookouts and more about texture and atmosphere. The combination of sandstone country, tall forest, palms and older planted trees makes Strickland feel more varied than many small day-use forests on the coast.

Best Time to Visit

Strickland can be rewarding at any time of year because the mix of drier woodland and shaded rainforest keeps the scenery changing with the seasons. Spring is a particularly good time for wildflowers, while the cooler months tend to suit longer walks through the eucalypt and rainforest sections. After wetter periods, the creek lines and lush gullies are often at their most vivid.

Plants and Animals

For a modest-sized forest, Strickland is notably rich in plant life. Wildflowers, heath woodland, dry eucalypt forest, tall eucalypts, rainforest vegetation and stands of cabbage tree palms all occur here, which helps explain why the bushland feels so varied from one section to the next.

The forest also supports threatened plant species. Official environmental sources record the endangered Strickland mintbush in or beside rainforest on sandstone soils in the Gosford, Ourimbah and Narara area, including Strickland State Forest. Another threatened species, Darwinia glaucophylla, is also recorded here, with one of its known subpopulations occurring within the forest.

Culture and Heritage

Strickland has an important place in the history of forestry in New South Wales. It was the site of the state’s first government forest nursery in the late 1880s and later the first national forestry training school in the 1920s. The surviving arboretum plantings from those periods are a rare link to that early forestry work and remain one of the forest’s most distinctive features.