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  • Resources
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North east Victoria

31 May 2022 by

Tomlinson's Swamp Reserve

Tomlinsons Swamp 2021 Nov(61)

Tomlinson's Swamp Reserve

Trust for Nature acknowledges and
respects the Traditional Owners of
this land.

Tomlinson’s Swamp Reserve encompasses 69 ha of endangered wetland ecosystems and is a breeding site for the enigmatic Brolga (Grus rubicunda) and other waterbirds such as the critically endangered Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia). The wetlands are made up of two ecological vegetation communities, Red Gum Wetland and Plain Grassy Wetland Mosaic.

Tomlinson’s Swamp is located in Tungamah and can be accessed via Three Chain Road near the corner of Pelluebla Road. The access gate into the reserve is locked.

All Trust for Nature reserves are closed on days of Total Fire Ban, and days of severe, extreme and code red fire danger.

Explore Tomlinson's Swamp Reserve

  • Habitat
  • Wildlife and plants
  • History
  • Amenities
  • Staying safe

Habitat

Since European settlement, over 97 per cent of Plains Grassy Wetlands in the Goulburn Broken catchment has been lost. Of what remains, 92 per cent occurs on private land. This community contains open, eucalypt woodland with an understorey rich in summer-growing grasses and herbs.

Only 81 per cent of the original extent of Red Gum Wetland remains within the Goulburn Broken catchment due to clearing, inappropriate grazing and draining. Red Gum Wetlands typically should be inundated for between 2-6 months a year. The annual inundations recorded at Tomlinson’s Swamp have often been below these levels. Red Gum Wetlands are dominated by eucalypt species with a herbaceous aquatic understorey.

Tomlinsons Swamp 2021 Nov(30)

Wildlife and plants

Tomlinson’s Swamp provides habitat for a diverse range of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Brolgas visit the swamp most years. The critically endangered Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia) has also been sited. Other interesting species include the vulnerable Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis), the vulnerable Great Egret (Ardea modesta), the Nankeen Night-Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) and Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus).

Numerous important flora species occur on the reserve. These include the rare Slender Water-ribbons (Triglochin dubia) and the vulnerable Pepper Grass (Panicum laevinode), as well as other attractive species such as the Swamp Billy-Buttons (Craspedia paludicola) and Drumsticks (Pycnosaurus globosus).

Brolga shutterstock_1011550186

History

Tomlinson’s Swamp was purchased by Trust for Nature in 2004 with funds from the Victorian Government. Prior to purchase, the property was used to domestic livestock grazing.

Land management actions have included fencing to exclude livestock and weed control works including for Paterson’s Curse, Bathurst Burr and Phalaris. Revegetation has occurred in the northern section, with species such as River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) along with a variety of shrub species. A fox eradication program has been carried out in conjunction with the Catchment Management Authority to reduce the threat to Brolga populations and other native species.

IMG_20211022_145517

Amenities

Access is via Three Chain Road only.

Some areas of the reserve are off limits during the brolga breeding season. This is to ensure that the birds are not disturbed during this crucial time. Please respect all signage and directions.

20200407_131035

Staying safe

Our reserves have hazards that may cause serious injury or death. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

The reserve is closed during days declared as Total Fire Bans and/or where the fire danger rating is Severe, Extreme or Code Red.

The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including several species of venomous snake. During summer it is advised that long trousers and gaiters are worn when walking in the reserve.

Visitors to the reserve are requested to not cross any fence-lines, or venture onto neighbouring private property. All visitors are requested to stay on the marked walking trails.

Other hazards:

  • Remote location
  • Uneven surfaces
Tomlinsons Swamp 2021 Nov(44)

24 May 2022 by

Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve

Delma impar B Lobert DSCN7125

Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve

Trust for Nature acknowledges and
respects the Traditional Owners of
this land

Purchased by Trust for Nature in 1999, Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve 18.3ha protects two endangered types of habitat: Plains Woodlands and Plains Grassy Woodland/Gilgai Wetland Mosaic.

Currently in northern Victoria only 0.5 per cent of the original Plains Grasslands remain. The structure and diversity of this reserve is unique in the Goulburn Broken catchment with 127 flora species being recorded, including a range of seasonal dependent species.

The protection of this reserve contributes substantially to the conservation of Northern Plains grasslands within the Goulburn Broken catchment.

All Trust for Nature reserves are closed on days of Total Fire Ban, and days of severe, extreme and code red fire danger.

Explore Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve

  • Habitat
  • Wildlife and plants
  • History
  • Amenities
  • Staying safe

Habitat

Plains Grassy Woodland/Gilgai Wetland Mosaic is an open grassland with gilgai (small, seasonal wetlands) due to the reserve being a low point in the landscape. The high quality grassland contains species such as Silky Swainson-pea (Swainsona serica) (vulnerable), Woolly Buttons (Leptorhynchos panaetioide) (rare) and Spurred Spear-grass (Austrostipa gibbosa) (rare).

Plains woodland is found in the southern section of the reserve. There is a rich groundcover and sparse shrubs.  Supplementary planting of shrubs has been undertaken to improve the quality of the woodland. There are many mature species of eucalypt including Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) and Yellow box (Eucalyptus melliodora).

20200806_150602

Wildlife and plants

Thirteen threatened plants have been found on the reserve including Mueller Daisy (Brachyscome muelleroides) (endangered), Silky Swainson pea (Swainsona sericea) (vulnerable), Slender Milfoil (Myriophyllum gracile var. lineare) (endangered) and Rye Beetle-grass (Tripogon loliformis) (rare).

Three rare animals have been recorded: Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar) (endangered), Olive Legless Lizard (Delma inornata) and Lace Monitor (Varanus varius) (endangered).

A number of trees within the woodland community are mature and contain hollows. Several of the Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) measure over four metres in circumference and are likely to be over 300 years old.

Naring Broughton pea Spring 2013

History

The Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve was purchased by Trust for Nature in 1999 with funding from the Australian Government. The previous owner used the native grassland to graze low numbers of domestic livestock.

Signs of the reserve’s Indigenous history are visible, with several trees having culturally significant scarring.

Trust for Nature has looked after the reserve in a number of ways:

  • improved fencing to manage grazing (which is used to maintain the health of the grasslands)
  • revegetation
  • ecological burns in 2013 and 2017
  • weed control.
Ji looking at the scar

Amenities

The Naringaningalook Grassland Reserve is located at 1259 Loofs Road, 15 km East of Numurkah

There are no amenities on site.

20200701_130108

Staying safe

Our reserves have hazards that may cause serious injury or death. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

The reserve is closed during days declared as Total Fire Bans and/or where the fire danger rating is Severe, Extreme or Code Red.

The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including several species of venomous snake. During summer it is advised that long trousers and gaiters are worn when walking in the reserve.

Visitors to the reserve are requested to not cross any fence-lines, or venture onto neighbouring private property. All visitors are requested to stay on the marked walking trails.

Other hazards include:

  • Remote location
  • Uneven surfaces
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

15 November 2021 by

Burge Family Reserve

Burge family reserve
Burge Fairies Aprons utricularia dichotoma

Burge Family Reserve

Trust for Nature acknowledges and
respects the Traditional Owners of
this land, the Taungurung people

The Burge Family Reserve sits on the edge of the Strathbogie Ranges at Gobur, just north of Yarck. Although only 38 hectares in size, it supports seven threated species in Box Gum Grassy Woodland habitat. This Nationally threatened plant community is very rare in the Gobur district, with only 2 per cent now remaining.

This property was in the same family since settlement until it was donated to Trust for Nature by the late Mervyn Shaw in 2010. Merv grazed sheep and cattle on the property, but also loved trees and nature.

Burge Reserve is closed to general public between November 1 and March 31.

All Trust for Nature reserves are closed on days of Total Fire Ban, and days of severe, extreme and code red fire danger.

Welcome

Explore Burge Family Reserve

  • Habitat
  • Wildlife and plants
  • History
  • Amenities
  • Looking after the reserve
  • Staying safe

Habitat

The reserve has areas of open grassland interspersed with woodland dominated by a mixture of eucalypt species: Grey Box (Eucalyptus macrocarpa), River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis), Red Stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), White Box (E. albens), Red Box (E. polyanthemos) and Candlebark (E. rubida). The property’s native vegetation occurs today due to a history of light grazing, the absence of fertilizer and cultivation.

Vegetation on the reserve is described as Valley Grassy Forest, a vegetation community that is part of the nationally listed Box Gum Grassy Woodland zone of eastern Australia. The site contains several dozen large hollow-bearing trees, many that pre-date European settlement.

DSCN3984 striated pardalote

Wildlife and plants

The Burge Family Reserve contains a diverse groundcover flora layer dominated by Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and a variety of lilies, orchids and other wildflowers. The reserve supports notable flora species including Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena), Plump Swamp-wallaby Grass (Amphibromus pithogastrus), and Slender Tick-trefoil (Desmodium varians). Notable fauna species include Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar), Brown Toadlet (Pseudophryne bibroni), Brown Tree-creeper (Climacteris picumnus, eastern subsp), Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata) and Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa).

Visitors can explore the plants, animals and fungi of the district via iNaturalistAU and Trust for Nature encourages visitors to use the iNaturalist database to document their photographic and audio natural history observations from the Burge Family Reserve.

echidna

History

The property was largely cleared of its original vegetation in the mid to late 1800s and generally supported low-intensity agricultural production. The lower sections of the property become seasonally waterlogged and evidence of plough furrows, to drain excess water, are still visible. Minor surface gold exploration occurred on the property and is still visible today. Two small dams, previously used for stock water, are now valuable artificial wetlands that support a variety of wetland flora and fauna.

The property was donated to Trust for Nature in 2010 by the late Mervyn Shaw.

DSCN2926 nearby Strathbogie Ranges

Amenities

There is a visitor’s car park at the reserve entrance, 2.8 km along the Gobur-Kanumbra Road from the Maroondah Highway, with room for approximately eight cars. Access into the reserve is on foot only and visitors are encouraged to stay on the established trails. Signage at the entrance informs visitors of seasonal restrictions.

A Committee of Management organises works and activities that improve the health of the reserve and engage with local communities and the conservation-minded public. Interpretive signage and seats along the walking trail are being installed.

Common OnionOorchid Microtis unifolia

Looking after the reserve

The Committee of Management and Trust for Nature acknowledges the Taungurung people as the traditional owners of the land this reserve sits within. Taungurung traditional owners have been involved in the Committee of Management’s cool season burning program that is necessary to maintain landscape health.

A number of pest plants and animals occur on at Burge Family Reserve. The main pest plants in recent years have been Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus sp aggregate), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum, Horehound, and Toowoomba Canary Grass (Phalaris aquatica). Most of these have been successfully eradicated, except for St. John’s Wort, which requires on-going control. A relatively new invasive plant, South African Weed Orchid (Disa bracteata), has taken hold in the reserve and is now requiring considerable effort and funds to try to control. Until it is controlled, the reserve is closed from 1st November – 31st March during the invasive orchid flowering season.

Staying safe

NOTE: Reserve is CLOSED between 1st November and 31st March

Our reserves have hazards that may cause serious injury or death. You are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those in your care.

The reserve is closed during days declared as Total Fire Bans and/or where the fire danger rating is Severe, Extreme or Code Red.

The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including several species of venomous snake. During summer it is advised that long trousers and gaiters are worn when walking in the reserve.

Visitors to the reserve are requested to not cross any fence-lines, or venture onto neighbouring private property. All visitors are requested to stay on the marked walking trails.

Other hazards include:

  • Falling limbs
  • Uneven surfaces
DSCN3006 spear grass