Australia: The Land Where Time Began

A biography of the Australian continent 

King Leopold Range

This range, in the King Leopold Ranges Conservation Park,  is composed of a number of smaller ranges - Lady Forrest Range, Isdell Range, Narrie Range, Sir John Range, Precipice Range and Durack Range. The area covered by the ranges has been estimated to be about 3921 km² (11,920  miles²). The average height of the range is 600 m (1969 ft), the highest point being Mt Wells, 983 m. Other peaks are Mt Ord, 936 m, and Mt Broome, 927 m.

The King Leopold Range is the most majestic range in the Kimberleys. It stretches 225 km and has the region's 2 highest peaks, the 936 m Mt Ord and the 927 m Mt Broom. The Explorer Alexander Forrest wrote of them in May 1879 that were "amazingly Beautiful" and described them as a "earthly paradise". It extends along the southern margin of the Kimberley Plateau with the ranges of the Devonian barrier reef and the Fitzroy River flanking its southern margin. A number of smaller ridges lie to the north.

There are several other ranges in the Kimberleys that many find spectacular in their own way.

Galvan's Gorge in the Phillips Range, not far from Geikie Gorge, a small rock pool at the foot of a tiered waterfall.

Manning Gorge in the Packsaddle Range is more jungle-like, with low sheer orange walls and follows a winding path. It is wide with white sandbanks and water Lilly-covered pools and the luxuriant greenery complete the tropical jungle appearance.

Lennard Gorge in the King Leopold Range is a deep gorge that tilts to one side and gives the impression of a corridor carved out of the rock.

The traditional owners of this region are the Ngarinjin and Punaba peoples.

1. Hellen Grasswill & Reg Morrison, Australia, a Timeless Grandeur, Lansdowne, 1981