A shared journey
We gratefully acknowledge Djaara (the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the Traditional Custodians of Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) in central Victoria, for over 14 years of partnership.
Bellair Reserve protects large stands of Heathy Woodlands, more than half of which have been cleared in the surrounding area since European settlement.
Its woodlands and alluvial flats contain habitat for many threatened species, including Red-cross Spider-orchids, Bulokes, Blue-winged Parrots, and declining woodland birds.
It's part of a network of conservation properties and covenants protecting and reconnecting habitat within the Kara Kara-Wedderburn region.
The reserve is named after generous donors Caroline and Terry Bellair. After attending a talk about our Victoria Reserves, they made up their minds to donate $1 million to help protect and reconnect native bush in north-central Victoria – a landscape that contains critical habitat for many species that are declining throughout much of south-eastern Australia.
Their original plan had been to bequest surplus savings in their Wills to environmental causes, but as Caroline says:
“We thought we might as well have the fun of spending it while we’re alive.”
Image Information
Pink Lady Fingers Orchid. Photo Jeroen Van Veen.
What Bellair protects
Heathy woodlands on these properties are dominated by Red Stringybark, Long-leaf Box, Grey Box, Red Box and Yellow Gum. Under these is a diverse range of shrubs including Spreading Wattle, Flame Heath and Twiggy bush-pea. There is also a section of Grassy Woodland as well as various rare orchids.
The reserves will be a refuge for declining woodland birds such as the Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata), Black-chinned Honeyeater (Melithreptus gularis) and Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris). The Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus victoriae) has been observed. It's expected to provide habitat for Swift Parrots as well as Lace Monitors (endangered in Victoria).
What we’re doing
Thankfully, weeds are largely absent from the reserves and at present the eucalypts show no signs of dieback related to dry, hot conditions, such as that occurring on Nardoo Hills Reserves just 50km to the north.
Bellair are also potentially suitable locations to introduce rare Victorian orchids.
Foxes and cats will need to be managed on the reserves but numbers appear low as there are very few rabbits.
As well as controlling these introduced species, the best strategy to maintain the reserve's condition is fire management and increasing knowledge of Dhelkunya Wi (healing fire). Even when suitable conditions return, fire should only be used on very small patches to start creating a mosaic of fire-ages.
