PARK HISTORY AND VESTING
The Pemberton Forest Park was gazetted originally as a National Park in 1928 after lobbying by the local community. The reserve status was then changed to National Park and Recreation in 1930 and vested in Trustees in 1931.
The Trustees became a Board of Management in 1943 and managed the Park until it was vested to the Pemberton National Parks Board in 1957. In 1964 the area of the Park was increased from 44 hectares to 120 hectares. In 1977 the vesting changed again to the National Parks Authority of Western Australia. In 1984 it was vested in the Pemberton-Northcliffe Tourist Bureau (now the Pemberton Visitor Centre Inc or PVC). This vesting was renewed on the 7th May 1999 for the designated purpose of “Recreation and Tourist Facilities".
The Caravan Park is now leased to a private operator for a period of twenty-one years from November 1997, along with adjoining property Lot 2, which is freehold land owned by the Pemberton Visitor Centre Inc.
In 2009 following the creation of the Pemberton Mountain Bike Park, some 22 kilometres (2015) of mountain bike tracks and dual use trails in the Pemberton Forest Park have been built increasing the range of activities in the Park for recreation.
LOCATION
The Pemberton Forest Park is located immediately west of the Pemberton Township (Location No.’s 19857 and 11908). It is gazetted as a ‘C’ class Reserve No. 19857 (nelson locations7368, 8977, 11906, 11907, 11908, 11289, 13018) and has an area of approximately 120 hectares. It is currently vested to the Pemberton Tourist Centre Inc. for the designated purpose of “recreation and tourist purposes”.
The majority of the border of the Park on the west and south sides abuts private property with the eastern edge bordering the Pemberton Township. Private property uses include tourism ventures, cattle farming, vegetable growing and hobby farms.
The Rainbow Trail begins in the Pemberton Forest Park and is a popular tourist walk. The Rainbow Trail follows the old railway formations which were used to haul logs to the Pemberton mill during the 1920’s. The Bibbulmun Track runs through the southwestern area of the Park onto the Rainbow Trail out to Big Brook Da..
CLIMATE, TOPOGRAPHY AND LANDFORM
The Pemberton Forest Park has a sub-Mediterranean climate with mild summers and cold wet winters. Both frosts and fogs are common in the winter months.
The topography of the Park is an incised valley containing Lefroy Brook and Swimming Pool Brook with relatively steep hills surrounding them.
The landform of the Park is described by Churchward (1992) as a Lefroy unit. The characteristics of this unit are 40-60 metre deep valleys with floors terraced by a clearly defined stream channel. Red Earths are dominant and a gravelly content may occur.
DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
There are two riparian zones in the Pemberton Forest Park. The main zone is the Lefroy Brook which runs west to east through the Park and the other is Swimming Pool Brook, a tributary of Lefroy Brook, which runs north to south to intersect Lefroy Brook. Both these water courses have special management needs which have been addressed in a separate management plan entitled Pemberton Forest Park Stream System Management Plan 1997.
FLORA AND FAUNA
NATIVE FLORA
The Pemberton Forest Park is essentially Karri forest. The southern half is an old growth stand whilst the remainder was selectively cut over in the 1920’s. The overstorey consists of Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolour) and some Marri (Corymbia calophylla) whilst the diverse understorey is dominated by species such as Acacia urophylla and Trymalium spathulatum. Rare or Priority Flora species are not known to occur in the Park.
INTRODUCED FLORA
There are a large number of introduced plants in the Pemberton Forest Park. A majority of these are found within the drainage systems. However, weeds occur throughout the Park, especially in disturbed areas such as along roadsides and walk trails. Species such as Watsonia (Watsonia spp), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosis), Scotch Thistle (Cardus spp.) and Deadly Nightshade (Solanum spp.) occur in these places.
NATIVE FAUNA
Birdlife is abundant in the Pemberton Forest Park and aquatic wildlife known to occur includes the Lamprey (Geotria australis) and Marron (Cherax tenuinanus). The Park is a likely habitat of kangaroos, Bush Rats, snakes, frogs and other reptiles.
INTRODUCED FLORA
Foxes and rabbits are known to occur in the Pemberton Forest Park. It is probable that other introduced species occur including: the Black Rat, the house mouse, feral cats, the Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Redfin Perch and the Laughing Kookaburra.
USING THE PEMBERTON POOL FOR A FUNCTION
If you would like to book the Pemberton Pool for a wedding or function please call the Pemberton Visitor Centre on (08) 9776 1133 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Charges are on application, a bond will be requested, to be paid in advance.
If we find the pool in the same condition it was in when it was hired out, the bond will be returned. The venue is unlicensed.
Advance notice is required for an event to allow time for the volunteers to mow the lawns and conduct a general tidy up. All rubbish is to be removed please.