Trust for Nature (Victoria)

Our mission is to protect and restore biodiversity on private land across Victoria

  • What we do
    • Conservation covenants
    • Working with Aboriginal Victorians
    • Climate change
    • Protecting threatened species
    • Neds Corner Station
    • Conservation reserves
    • Current projects
  • Ways to give
    • Help Protect What Remains
    • Bush Protection Program
    • Wills and bequests
    • Donate land
    • West Gippsland Fund
    • Volunteers
  • About us
    • Our board
    • Our people
    • Covenantors
    • Partners
    • News
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Contact us
  • Resources
    • All publications
    • Strategic Plan 2021-2025
    • Statewide Conservation Plan
    • Resources for landholders
    • Preparing for fire season
    • Resources for businesses
    • Victorian ecosystems
    • Sustainable Development Goals
  • What we do
    • Conservation covenants
    • Working with Aboriginal Victorians
    • Climate change
    • Protecting threatened species
    • Neds Corner Station
    • Conservation reserves
    • Current projects
  • Ways to give
    • Help Protect What Remains
    • Bush Protection Program
    • Wills and bequests
    • Donate land
    • West Gippsland Fund
    • Volunteers
  • About us
    • Our board
    • Our people
    • Covenantors
    • Partners
    • News
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Contact us
  • Resources
    • All publications
    • Strategic Plan 2021-2025
    • Statewide Conservation Plan
    • Resources for landholders
    • Preparing for fire season
    • Resources for businesses
    • Victorian ecosystems
    • Sustainable Development Goals
  • Make an enquiry
  • Properties for sale
  • Donate
  • What we do
    • Conservation covenants
    • Working with Aboriginal Victorians
    • Climate change
    • Protecting threatened species
    • Neds Corner Station
    • Conservation reserves
    • Current projects
  • Ways to give
    • Help Protect What Remains
    • Bush Protection Program
    • Wills and bequests
    • Donate land
    • West Gippsland Fund
    • Volunteers
  • About us
    • Our board
    • Our people
    • Covenantors
    • Partners
    • News
    • Events
    • Careers
    • Contact us
  • Resources
    • All publications
    • Strategic Plan 2021-2025
    • Statewide Conservation Plan
    • Resources for landholders
    • Preparing for fire season
    • Resources for businesses
    • Victorian ecosystems
    • Sustainable Development Goals

Snape Reserve

Western Pygmy Possum XTY-138 CJiri Lochman- Lochman LT

Snape Reserve

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

Purchased in 2002 thanks to the generosity of Diana and Brian Snape, Snape Reserve helps buffer Little Desert National Park. It is 846 ha, and situated near Dimboola in the Wimmera. Snape Reserve is significant due to its cultural heritage values and because of the vegetation it protects.

Snape Reserve is also important  because it is the largest private land conservation effort between the Little Desert and the Wimmera River, which flows north before terminating in the ephemeral Lakes of Hindmarsh and Albacutya in north-west Victoria.

Learn more about Snape Reserve at snapereserve.au.

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

Explore Snape Reserve

  • Habitat
  • Wildlife and plants
  • History
  • Amenities
  • Staying safe
  • Looking after Snape Reserve

Habitat

Snape Reserve supports many different types of vegetation including Shallow Sands Woodland, Low Rises Woodland, Lignum Swampy Woodlands, Plains Savannah and Ridged Plains Mallee. The overall vegetation on site comprises of Cypress-pine (Callitris spp), Black Box (Eucalyptus largiflorens), Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) and Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) dominated grassy woodlands, as well as Desert Stringybark (Eucalyptus arenacea) and, to a lesser extent, Slender-leaf Mallee (Eucalyptus leptophylla) dominated heathlands.

Snape Reserve supports a range of different ephemeral wetlands. The largest of these is known locally as Racecourse Swamp and is an important ecological feature.

P1050049

Wildlife and plants

Snape Reserve protects habitat for many different animals and plants, including a number of threatened species.

Significant plant species include Winged Peppercress, Upright Spider-orchid, Salt Paperbark, Heathy Daisy-bush, Narrow-leaf Phebalium, Floodplain Rustyhood and Giant New Holland Daisy.

Significant animal species include Silky Mouse, Tree Goanna, Bardick snake, and Bearded Dragon. Birds include Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Diamond Firetail, Painted Honeyeater and Powerful Owl.

Snape Reserve is a core area for other species including Sugar Glider and Western Pygmy-possum. Bats are also well represented with four species recorded in the reserve.

Correa reflexa (5)

History

There is evidence on the reserve to suggest that it was used by the Indigenous people within the area. Stone scatters and burials can be found within the sandy area on the north-eastern side of the reserve. Formal cultural heritage surveys were performed in 2022 and are recording this rich cultural heritage.

The reserve was part of Upper Regions Station, occupied by squatter William Patterson in March 1845. By 1873, the Dimboola Race Club were using the largest ephemeral swamp – known today as Racecourse Swamp – for race meetings. The property changed hands several more times before Trust for Nature acquired the property in 2002. Despite nearly 160 years of grazing and some cropping, the reserve has significant conservation values.

Quandong area

Amenities

Walking access is permitted with the purchase of a day pass at the Snape Reserve. The cost of a pass is $2 per adult. Children are free but must be accompanied by an adult. Visitors must sign the Visitor Record Book at the Information Bay near the entrance.

Trust for Nature and the Committee of Management of Snape Reserve welcomes the visit of groups, but this must be pre-arranged with the Chairman.

All rubbish is to be taken away.

No animals allowed, except guide and medical companion dogs.

No camping. No shooting. No bicycles. No motorbikes.

P1040701

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:

  • Fire
  • Falling limbs
  • Chemical storage
  • Machinery
Quandong area

Looking after Snape Reserve

The Snape Reserve Committee of Management (COM) was established upon acquisition and remains active. Initially, there was a significant amount of work to be done including identifying the threats. The vegetation had been partially cleared the northern sections of the land. Previous land uses had included cropping, introduced pasture, domestic livestock grazing and sand extraction. Threat abatement activities were a priority for several years and to this day continue to be an on-going management activity. To assist the natural recovery of the site, a number of revegetation projects have been undertaken. The Snape Reserve COM also support, provide access for and host a range of visitor groups and individuals.

For more information about Snape Reserve, please visit snapereserve.au

IMG_1510

Want to stay in the loop?

Subscribe to our news updates

We acknowledge and respect Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters. We pay respect to Elders past and present and to the continuing spiritual and cultural connection Aboriginal Victorians continue to have with Victoria’s diverse environments.

Our mission is to protect and restore biodiversity on private land across Victoria.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Compliance
  • Properties for sale
  • Donate

+61 (0)3 8631 5888
Freecall 1800 999 933
trustfornature@tfn.org.au
5/379 Collins Street,
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

© Copyright 2017 Trust for Nature (Victoria). ABN 60 292 993 543. Website designed and developed by Zib Digital.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.