Jagungal Wilderness crime statistics

About Jagungal Wilderness

The Jagungal Wilderness is a protected, highly elevated natural area located in the Snowy Mountains region of southern New South Wales, primarily within the Snowy Valleys Council local government area (postcode 2642). Characterised by its vast alpine and sub-alpine landscapes, the terrain is dominated by the prominent peak of Mount Jagungal, alongside sweeping snow grass plains, open woodlands, and the headwaters of major river systems such as the Snowy and Murray rivers. Due to its status as a strict wilderness zone within Kosciuszko National Park, the area has a permanent resident population of zero, remaining uninhabited except for transient bushwalkers, cross-country skiers, and researchers.

Owing to its remote and protected classification, the locality contains no permanent commercial amenities, residential housing, or vehicular roads, with access restricted strictly to walking tracks and management trails such as the Bicentennial National Trail. Local life is defined entirely by recreational wilderness use, conservation management by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, and seasonal cattle grazing heritage management. Nearby service hubs like Tumbarumba, Khancoban, and Adaminaby provide the closest accommodations, fuel, and emergency services for visitors preparing to enter the rugged terrain.

Historically, the area was utilized for seasonal high-country cattle grazing by European settlers from the mid-19th century onwards, leaving behind a legacy of rustic huts—such as Jagungal, O'Keefes, and Dershkivs huts—that are historically significant to the region. Prior to European settlement, the traditional custodians of the broader Snowy Mountains region, including the Jagungal area, were Indigenous Australian groups who traveled into the high country during warmer months to gather Bogong moths and conduct ceremonial gatherings. The establishment of the wilderness area ultimately curtailed grazing and industrial development, cementing its modern purpose as a preserved sanctuary for native alpine flora and fauna.

Sources and interpretation

These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.

• NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
• NSW Spatial Services
• Methodology, updates and corrections