Postcode(s) 3418, 3490 Federal division Division of Mallee | State electorate(s) Mildura | |
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LGA(s) Rural City of MilduraShire of West WimmeraShire of Hindmarsh Big Desert Patchewollock, Yaapeet, Albacutya | ||
The Big Desert Wilderness Park, on the western border of Victoria, Australia, is the oldest of Victoria's three wilderness parks. It is also a locality of the Rural City of Mildura.
Map of Big Desert VIC 3490, Australia
The park is a protected area of 1,130 square kilometres (436 sq mi), with no vehicular access, and no defined walking tracks. Encompassing part of the Big Desert, it also adjoins Ninety Mile Desert across the border in South Australia. As the park is a dedicated wilderness area, there are no facilities of any kind, including toilets or campsites. However, hiking and small fuel stoves are permitted. The park is part of the Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat Important Bird Area, identified as such by BirdLife International because of its importance for the conservation of malleefowl and other species of mallee birds.
A large bushfire was ignited by lightning in the park in 2002 then spread rapidly due to strong winds and dry fuel. The fire soon joined another in the adjoining Wyperfield National Park and an area of 1,814 square kilometres (700 sq mi) was burned out. The fire burned for two weeks resulting in the loss of an abandoned house and 400 hectares (988 acres) of private property.