Glenrock State Conservation Area contains remnant vegetation representative of the area, including ten nationally significant vegetation communities, two endangered ecological communities and five threatened flora species. There are more than 145 historic sites, including Australia’s first road/tram tunnel and first railway tunnels, remains of Australia’s first commissioned copper smelter, and remains of Burwood Colliery which is one of the oldest and best preserved 19th century coalmines in the Hunter.
Glenrock State Conservation Area is part of the cultural landscape of the Awabakal Aboriginal people, and contains a range of Aboriginal sites including a pathway, quarry site, camp sites, middens and axe grinding grooves.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service commissioned a conservation management and cultural tourism plan for Glenrock's cultural landscape. The conservation management and cultural tourism plan considers the important cultural heritage values of this landscape, and sets out ways to protect and promote these values. The plan supports the plan of management for Glenrock State Conservation Area and provides more detailed guidance on how best to conserve, interpret and manage the Glenrock cultural landscape in its entirety.
