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Parklands Albury Wodonga
Parks


  

Swainsona Reserve

Swainsona Reserve
 
Size: 9 ha hectares 
 
Vegetation community:   Box-stringy bark open woodlands, some open grassland 
 
Landform:   Rolling hillsides, rocky outcrops, natural gullies
 
Classification: Recreation and conservation
 
Features:   Great scenic qualities, access to abundant wildlife, birdlife and wildflowers in spring
 
Walking trails: Gully Walking Track

Swainsona galegifolia - Smooth Darling pea
Forming part of McFarlanes Hill, Swainsona Reserve takes its name from the endangered Smooth Darling Pea, Swainsona galegifolia, which grows in the vicinity. parklands is working in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (Vic) in a species recovery program for the Pea.

Swainsona Reserve is a very special and peaceful place, although a significant fire in 2002-2003 dramatically changed the area. Recent works have seen the rebuilding of the infrastructure. 

Achievements to date

Wodonga TAFE conducted training with the CDEP crew at McFarlanes Hill. As part of a Certificate III in Horticulture, the crew installed signage and interpretive shelters. They were also involved in track construction and consolidation, weed control, soil removal and revegetation.

The 2004 Green Corps team assisted with tree planting, revegetation, track upgrading and footbridge construction.

Volunteers enjoying a break, after recontructing teh Gully walking track
Significant grasslands have been fenced off with, along with ongoing weed control to clear gullies of noxious weeds.

McFarlanes Hill is a site for biological control of Patterson's Curse and St Johns Wort.

A single remnant Callitris Pine is also regenerating in the area.

Funding

Funds are mainly procured from parklands core income.

National Heritage Trust has provided $20,000.

The future

A heritage survey is to be undertaken with the goal of creating a heritage walk for park visitors, along with the extension of tracks to create a circuit linking Swainsona to McFarlanes Hill. As it is a significant bushland area, we are planning to undertake extensive flora and fauna surveys. In 2004, it is planned to create a 'Friends of Parklands' group to become specifically involved with McFarlanes Hill and Swainsona Reserve.

The gully is a feature of the Reserve
Situated on McFarlanes Hill, Swainsona Reserve is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The Reserve is nestled in a secluded bushland setting offering picnic facilities and picture perfect views along the Gully Walking Track.

Where

Swainsona Reserve is situated on Felltimber Creek Road Wodonga. It takes approximately 15 mins drive from the centre of Wodonga.

What you might see?

If you walk quietly you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the shy Swamp Wallaby.

The Reserve is filled with a rich variety of woodland birds including wrens, thornbills, lorikeets, robins and pardalotes.

In spring keep your eye out for the threatened Smooth Darling Pea (Swainsona galegifolia) found in the Reserve.

The Project

The project is known as the McFarlanes Hill Indigenous Revegetation and Habitat Restoration/Protection Project and aims to protect and enhance one of the two remaining remnant populations of Smooth Darling Pea in north east Victoria.

Things to do

  • Birdwatching
  • Picnicking
  • Short walks
  • Photography
  • Nature observing

Facilities

  • Walking Tracks
  • Information Board
  • Seating
  • Carparking

What You Need to Know while in Parklands »

Further information on parklands tracks and trails in the Albury-Wodonga area can be obtained from parklands on (02) 6023 6714.