Local Government
Halls Creek
Region
Kimberley
Carranya - Wolf Creek Crater Rd Sturt Creek
In Wolfe Creek Crater National Park, about 22 km from Tanami Road turnoff
Halls Creek
Kimberley
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| (no listings) |
| Type | Status | Date | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP - To be assessed | Current | 25 Aug 2006 |
| Type | Status | Date | Grading/Management | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | ||||
| Municipal Inventory | Adopted | 28 Sep 1995 | Category 2 | |
| Classified by the National Trust | Classified {Lscpe} | 22 Mar 1991 | ||
| Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register | Registered | |||
| Register of the National Estate | Registered | 21 Mar 1978 | ||
Aesthetic value: The formation is an importnat landmark in the region and of value to the tourism industry. Scientific Value: The crater is of world significance as a geologcal site.
Wolfe Creek Crater is a natural feature formed when a meteorite hit Earth 300 000 years ago. It is a circular crater, approximately 850m across situated 90km south of Halls Creek, on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert. The walls are up to 35m high and the crater floor is 50m below the rim. While walls are bare and stony, the flat floor is vegetated with acacia, melaleuca (myrtle) and grasses. Originally the crater floor would have been up to 200m deep, but the bowl is now filled with sand and gypsum. The central area is pierced by a number of sink holes that probably reflect the position of stress fractures formed by the explosion in the bottom of the crater. Unusually large trees grow here, drawing on reserves of water trapped after summer rain. It is one of only three proven explosion craters in Western Australia and one of only 15 explosion craters world wide. It is the second largest such crater, after Meteor Crater , Arizona in the USA and is by far the most spectacular in Western Australia. Iron meteorite fragments have been found 3.9 km south west of the crater, the larges weighing 72.6 grams. The crater is significant for its rarity, its scientific value and its physical perfection.
| Library Id | Title | Medium | Year Of Publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2370 | Wolf Creek Meteorite Crater : nomination of a geological monument for the register of the National Estate. | Book | 1991 |
Geological monument
| Epoch | General | Specific |
|---|---|---|
| Original Use | OTHER | Other |
| Present Use | OTHER | Other |
| General | Specific |
|---|---|
| DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY | Exploration & surveying |
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Education & science |
| SOCIAL & CIVIC ACTIVITIES | Environmental awareness |
| OUTSIDE INFLUENCES | Tourism |
This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.