Carnarvon Station

Carnarvon Station encompasses an elevated valley running parallel to the southern edge of the Great Dividing Range, 600km west of Bundaberg.  The total area is 59 000ha and is the traditional land of the Bidjara people. Rugged sandstone hills and escarpments frame the northern side, with basalt capping on the hills in the east.  Clay soils dominate the narrow, flat valley floors, supporting a mosaic of bluegrass grasslands and poplar box woodlands.  The creeks are seasonal, although there are 35 natural freshwater springs. 

Carnarvon Station is situated within one of largest forest blocks in the Brigalow Belt South bioregion.  This region had the highest forest clearance rates in the country. 

The Reserve contributes a major extension to Carnarvon National Park, both in area and in the range of Regional Ecosystems reserved.  It protects 28 regional ecosystems; three of these are listed as Endangered and nine are listed as Of Concern (EPA 2003). 

Of the 243 animal species observed and recorded on the reserve to date, 39 of these are listed as threatened.  The mammal, bird and reptile species listed as rare or vulnerable include the glossy black cockatoo, the grey goshawk, the little pied bat, and the golden-tailed gecko.  In addition, another dozen threatened species, such as the northern quoll and the square-tailed kite, are likely to occur on the site.

Over 200 plant species have been recorded on the reserve so far, and 3 of these are listed as rare.

Management Work

Management actions are identified & prioritised within the reserve’s management plan, prepared by Bush Heritage ecologists and reserve managers.  Broadly, these include: feral animal control, fire management, weed management, soil conservation, flora & fauna monitoring, cultural heritage, visitation, & ongoing repairs & maintenance of infrastructure.

Flora and fauna surveys are ongoing.  Work continues to eradicate our three priority weed species, buffel grass, Johnson grass and prickly mimosa. Fire management is a key activity and broad-scale prescribed burning was carried out across the reserve. We have started working collaboratively with University of Southern Queensland, with funding from Land and Water Australia, to assess woodland bird diversity in the Brigalow.