Visit Kojonup (WA)

Conservation value

Kojonup Reserve protects the largest area of wandoo woodlands in the region. The property is a rare example of the original landscape before the 1960s, when each year a million acres of Western Australian bushland was cleared for broad-acre farming.

When to go

Kojonup is open to the public for day visits. The spring months are ideal for seeing wildflowers and abundant bird activity.

Avoid summer months, as they can be hot and dry, with a high risk of wild fires.

Facilities

There are no facilities on the reserve. The nearest public toilet is at Kojonup.

Preparation

Your safety is our concern but your responsibility. Please prepare thoroughly, as the reserve is some distance from medical and emergency services.

In an emergency, call 000. Ensure you have adequate food, water, first aid supplies and appropriate communication equipment.

Please check weather conditions, and don't travel to the property if they're unfavourable as Kojonup is in a high-risk fire area.

Help minimise the chance of introducing the root fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi, by ensuring footwear, clothing and other gear is free from soil before entering the property. Once established, Phytophthora cinnamomi is impossible to eradicate and causes the death of many species.

Also, please consider whether you are confident at finding your way around the bush, as there are no marked walking tracks.

While on reserve

There's no vehicle access to the reserve so exploring is done on foot.

Don't disturb or remove plants, animals, historical or archaeological items. If you come across nest boxes on trees, do not approach or disturb them.

Before you leave, please check you’ve taken all your rubbish with you. Please note wildlife surveillance cameras are used.

How to get there

Larger map

Kojonup is about 263km (a 3-hour drive) south-east from Perth and about 184km (a 2-hour drive) north-west of Albany.

From the Albany Highway (30), turn onto Cherry Tree Pool Rd, and then onto Mission Rd. The Bush Heritage reserve sign is a short distance along the left-hand side of Mission Rd. Park on the roadside near the gate. Refer to map.

What to see

In wildflower season, enjoy Shy Featherflowers, Redcoats and Fringed Lilies in bloom. All year round, wander over heathlands and walk through mallet, sheoak and wandoo woodlands.

If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Black-gloved Wallaby. Take time to look up into the canopy, where you could sight many local bird species, such as Golden and Rufous Whistlers.

Try spotting declining Rufous Treecreepers – they nest in hollows in mature wandoo trees. On the ground, look carefully around fallen logs, which provide habitat for foraging birds, such as White-browed Babblers.

Human history

Kojonup is an Aboriginal name said to mean ‘place of the stone axe' (kodja) and the stone used to make it (kodj). Between 1926 and 1996, the O'Halloran family owned the property. They were so intent on protecting its woodlands that when it came time to sell, they spent 10 years finding the appropriate buyer – Bush Heritage.

Conservation work

As a consequence of extensive native vegetation clearance, large tracts of land, including Kojonup Reserve, are now threatened by salinity. The southwest corner of the property has been particularly hard hit, with areas of the native bushland dead or salt-affected.

However, tree-planting in neighbouring properties seems to be yielding results, with the saline groundwater table staying reasonably stable since acquisition.

In addition, we continuously work to control feral predators. Through the support of donors, we control rabbits and foxes, as well as monitor and maintain the health of wandoo woodland to give animals like the Red-tailed Phascogales the best chance of survival.

Thank you

Thanks to all our supporters whose donations fund the day-to-day cost of managing this reserve. We also thank the many dedicated people involved in our work, including volunteers, partners and contractors.