Liffey Valley Reserves

Three significant parcels of land, Liffey River (105 ha), Dry’s Bluff (136 ha) and the more recent acquisition, Coalmine Creek (20ha) reserve in the Liffey Valley in northern Tasmania make up the collective Liffey Valley Reserve. These properties lie beneath the spectacular fluted, dolerite cliffs of the Great Western Tiers, which form the edge of the Central Plateau and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area.

Late in 1989, part of the Liffey Valley, including Liffey Falls and Drys Bluff, were included in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Six months later loggers were bidding at auction for two forested blocks on the lower slopes of the Bluff. These forests were saved by the efforts of Dr Bob Brown, who raised the money to buy the land and protect its natural values.

Liffey River and Drys Bluff became the organisation's first reserves and marked the start of the Australian Bush Heritage Fund.

The Coalmine Creek Reserve was purchased by Rory Hannan at about the same time as Bob purchased the two Liffey blocks. His motivation for acquiring the land was similar to that articulated by Bob. In 1992, ownership of that block was taken over by Judy Henderson, who was a central figure on the Bush Heritage Board. Judy donated the block to Bush Heritage in May 2003.

Clearing for timber production still continues in the valley and aerial photographs of the area emphasise the nature conservation value of this purchase. The Liffey reserves are a crucial buffer between the settled agricultural areas of the valley and the World Heritage Area sited above them. Bush Heritage's reserves effectively extend the boundaries of existing reserved public land and help maintain habitats of flora and fauna which are threatened elsewhere along the length of the Tiers.