Woodland country and old ceremonial ground near Terry Hie Hie

Overview

Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Area sits around the small village of the same name, about 50km south-east of Moree in north-east New South Wales. It covers 15,382 hectares in six separate sections on the western slopes of the northern extension of the Nandewar Range, where the New England Tableland begins to give way to the inland plains.

This is a place shaped as much by its cultural meaning as its natural setting. Alongside areas of forest and grassland, it protects a broad spread of important Aboriginal sites as well as habitat for threatened plants and animals, giving the reserve a character that feels quiet, open and deeply grounded in Country.

Highlights

The landscape here is defined by inland woodland rather than dramatic peaks or cliffs. Cypress pine and silver-leaf ironbark woodland give the area much of its texture, with patches of grassland opening things out and creating a strong sense of space. Because the reserve is spread across several sections, the country has a varied feel, from lightly timbered ground to denser woodland.

Its setting on the edge of the Nandewar country also gives it a subtle change in landform and vegetation that stands out in this part of north-western NSW. The result is a park valued less for one big landmark than for its broad woodland scenery, birdlife and the sense of continuity across a long-settled inland landscape.

Best Time to Visit

Cooler months are generally the most comfortable time to spend time here, particularly from autumn through spring, when walking through open woodland is usually more pleasant than in the heat of summer. Spring can be especially rewarding for bird activity and for seeing the reserve when grasses and woodland growth are at their freshest.

Plants and Animals

Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Area supports four threatened ecological communities and habitat for 18 threatened native animal species. Its woodland habitats are especially important for birds, with records including speckled warbler, little lorikeet, glossy black-cockatoo and masked owl.

Koalas, wallabies, reptiles and a wide range of woodland species also use the reserve. The mix of cypress pine and silver-leaf ironbark woodland is a big part of what makes the area ecologically important, particularly in a landscape where native habitat has been heavily reduced over time.

Culture and Heritage

Terry Hie Hie Aboriginal Area lies within the traditional Country of the Gamilaroi People and remains a place of strong cultural significance. It protects ceremonial sites, art sites, tool-making areas, burial sites, hunting grounds and places where Aboriginal people lived before and after European contact.

There is clear evidence of long-term use, including a corroboree ground and at least 240 axe-grinding grooves. Joint management with Gamilaroi community representatives helps maintain cultural connections to Country and keeps the area closely tied to living community knowledge as well as the physical traces of the past.