Yanchep National Park

Yanchep is a national park in Western Australia (Australia), 42 kilometres (26 mi) north of Perth. The park is noted for its caves, native bush and koala colonies. It also offers cultural educational programmes offered in partnership with the local Nyoongar aboriginal people. The area was inhabited and was a noted hunting site for thousands of years by Indigenous Australians prior to the arrival of Europeans. The tribal name for the park is Nyanyi-Yandjip named after the reeds and lake which were thought to resemble the hairy mane of the dreamtime creature the Waugul. The word Yanchep is derived from Yandjip or Yanget which is the aboriginal name for the local bulrush reed found fringing the lakes in the area. The first European visitor arrived in 1834 when John Butler, a farmer, came in search of his lost cattle and noted the presence of the lakes, wetlands and plentiful game. While in the area Butler was greeted by the men of the Yellagonga peoples who inhabited the area. Lieutenant George Grey travelled through the area in 1838 and made note of the remarkable caves he found in the area. Surveyor John Septimus Roe and Governor John Hutt visited the caves in the park in 1841. A road survey was conducted near Loch McNess in 1862 and later in 1865 a stock route was built through the area that was later used by drovers.