Climate and geography at the Forest Science Centre, Cumberland State Forest
The entry to Cumberland State Forest
Cumberland State Forest is located immediately south of the ridge forming the watershed between Berowra Creek (to north) and the Parramatta River. Aspect is generally southwesterly, and the forest is drained by several small creeks which flow in a southwesterly direction and which ultimately join Darling Mills Creek, which itself becomes the Parramatta River at its junction with Toongabbee Creek.
Elevations within Cumberland State Forest range from 174 metres (a.s.l.) near Castle Hill Road to about 88 metres in the creek in the southwestern corner. Topography is gently hilly.
Climatic features
Climatic features of the forest recorded at Cumberland Forest Nursery
Rainfall (mm)
| Mean annual | 1179 |
| Highest annual (1950) | 2242 |
| Lowest annual (1957) | 630 |
| Wettest 3 months: Jan-Mar | 399 |
| Driest 3 months: Jul-Sept | 203 |
Temperature (oC)
| Mean annual | 17 |
| Mean maximum | 23 |
| Mean minimum | 11 |
| January: mean maximum | 29 |
| January: mean minimum | 16 |
| July: Mean maximum | 16 |
| July: Mean minimum | 05 |
| Absolute maximum recorded (86th percentile) | 43 |
| Absolute minimum recorded (14th percentile) | -3 |
A few frosts may be expected most years between May and August, inclusive.
Geography of Cumberland State Forest
Cumberland State Forest
Cumberland State Forest is one of the larger remnants of native forest in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Wianamatta Shales (Ashfield Shales), of Triassic Age, underlie most of the forest, but Hawkesbury Sandstone occurs in the south and southwest. The shale has given rise to deep soils of moderately high fertility. The fertile soil, sheltered aspect and moderately high rainfall combine to provide favourable forest growing conditions, and the forest supports a wet sclerophyll forest. Over much of the northern section of the forest the native stands have been replaced by or interspersed with arboretal plantings, including the establishment of rainforest conditions along some of the creeks.