Rattray Road Reserve
This 1.87 hectare reserve is one of the smaller conservation reserves found in Montmorency. It protects and enhances indigenous vegetation, and helps encourage local fauna to thrive. There is a walking track through its middle and a mown firebreak around its border. It is managed by Banyule's Bushland Management Unit with assistance from local volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, join the Friends of Montmorency Bushlands.
History
The reserve was originally part of a local farm called Montmorency Estate, owned by Stuart Donaldson, a merchant and first premier of NSW. It was used for grazing cows during the 1930s and 1940s.
During World War II, it was used as a storage area for army supplies. In the 1950s, it was a convenient dumping place for building rubbish.
In the mid-1970s housing was proposed for the area. However, as a result of public opposition and a university study that found it was a haven for birds, with over 100 species recorded, it became a reserve. The reserve was neglected for many, with grass fires in the 1980s.
Many woody weeds, broom and ivy have been removed. Since 2004, there has been regular planting days.
Historical information supplied by Allan Garbutt.
Video
Flora and fauna
The reserve has 2 types of vegetation community; the top of the hill is grassy dry forest/box stringybark woodland, yellow box dominated and the lower half of the hill is valley grassy forest, longleaf box/candlebark dominated. Both are considered regionally threatened.
There are many species growing here, including purple coral pea, chocolate lily and bulbine lily.
Fauna
| Common name |
Scientific name |
|
Australian magpie
|
Cracticus tibicen
|
|
Brushtail possum
|
Trichosurus vulpecula |
|
Common ringtail possum
|
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
|
|
Eastern blue tongue lizard
|
Tiliqua scincoides
|
|
Musk lorikeet
|
Glossopsitta concinna
|
|
Rainbow lorikeet
|
Trichoglossus moluccanus
|
|
Sugar glider
|
Petaurus breviceps
|
|
Tawny frogmouth
|
Podargus strigoides
|
Flora
| Scientific name |
Common name |
|
Acacia acinacea
|
Gold dust wattle
|
|
Acacia implexa
|
Lightwood
|
| Acacia pycnantha
|
Golden wattle |
|
Arthropodium strictum
|
Chocolate lily
|
|
Bossiaea prostrata
|
Creeping bossieae
|
|
Bulbine bulbosa
|
Bulbine lily
|
|
Bursaria spinosa
|
Sweet bursaria
|
|
Caesia calliantha
|
Blue grass lily
|
|
Cassinia longifolia
|
Shiny cassinia
|
Clematis decipiens
|
Slender clematis |
Correa glabra
|
Rock correa |
|
Dianella amoena
|
Matted flax lily
|
|
Dichondra repens
|
Kidney weed
|
|
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
|
River red gum
|
Eucalyptus macrorhyncha
|
Red stringybark |
Eucalyptus melliodora
|
Yellow box |
|
Hardenbergia violacea
|
Purple coral pea
|
|
Kunzea leptospermoides
|
Yarra burgan
|
Microlaena stipoides
|
Weeping grass |
Pterostylis curta
|
Blunt greenhood |
|
Rytidosperma sp.
|
Wallaby grass
|
|
Themeda triandra
|
Kangaroo grass
|
|
Tricoryne elatior
|
Yellow rush lily
|
| Xerochrysum viscosum
|
Sticky everlasting |
Location
127 Rattray Road, Montmorency 3094 View Map
-37.718885, 145.127358
127 Rattray Road ,
Montmorency 3094
127 Rattray Road ,
Montmorency 3094