Whitbourne - Newfoundland and Labrador

Route 81

Coordinates: 47°25′N 53°32′W

The Town of Whitbourne is Newfoundland's first inland town. Less than 5 minutes from the highway on route 81, the town boasts its history, its recreational facilities and its beautiful natural environment.

The town has a connection to the Newfoundland railway dating back to the first rail line constructed in 1881. The old Railway Station is the home of the town hall, museum, and old train cars. Artifacts in the museum include a Replica of Sir Robert Bond's house, "The Grange", a replica of a Newfoundland Ranger Force member, Railway Artifacts, and a Forest Ranger Mannequin.

Sir Robert Bond, Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900-1908, built The Grange, a country estate and model farm in the town. The Park, which has been maintained on Bond Road, has beautiful walking trails and picnic areas under mature trees and on the banks of Junction Pond.

The park is also home of some very rare lichens. The Degelia Plumbea belongs to a group of lichens known as Cyanolichens. This lichen usually occurs mainly on hardwood trees and usually in forests that already have populations of other lichens belonging to the genus Lobario. There have been very few identified locations of Degelia Plumbea on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The town is an important link in wetland conservation in North America. The Hodge River and its associated waterways are used extensively by waterfowl for feeding, nesting and brood rearing. The area has an abundance of aquatic vegetation and associated invertebrates, suitable sites for nesting and adequate cover for protection from predators. As many as 25 broods of waterfowl are produced here annually.