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.

Explore Burge Family Reserve

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 1^st November – 31^st March during the invasive orchid flowering season.

Staying safe

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