Mount Lesueur - WA

Mount Lesueur is a flat topped mesa located in the Gairdner Range in the SE section of the Lesueur National Park. It was named by French explorers on the corvette Naturaliste in June 1801. Charles-Alexandre Lesueur was a topographical and natural history artist on the expedition.

It was the focus of an epic battle in the early 1990's between coal mining interests and a coalition of anti mining groups including farmers, greens, unions, birdos and most of the scientific community; the latter groups comprehensively winning. There are extensive lower grade coal measures in the area and the proposal was to build own and operate a power station. The problem for the miners, however was that this section of the Lesueur area, now part of a 27,000 Ha NP, had been identified for more than 100 years as being a centre of plant biodiversity.

Alongside the Stirling and Fitzgerald NP's Lesueur is recognised as an international biodiversity hotspot. Lesueur is stunning for wildflower enthusiasts for much of the year but late winter and spring are special. As well it has a rugged beauty uncharacteristic of the heaths and sanplains surrounding it.

Visitors are well served by a loop drive through the most rugged sections of the park, leading to a major carpark with interpretive signage. From the carpark visitors can walk via a shoter loop around the razorback hill, or continue on a return walk to the top of Mt Lesueur itself, from which sensational views are available over gully incised woodlands.