Spiky Tree Fern

Posted in Plants, River-Forest, Wildflower Reserve | 0 comments

The hardy and adaptable Cyathea australis or Spiky tree fern is found at Tree Fern Gully on the River-Forest section of the circuit.  It has roots and hair like follicles on its trunk giving it a rough texture and it is adaptable to a variety of climates and soils.  Ferns are also amongst the oldest plants in the world dating back to the Carboniferous period  360 million years ago and the Spiky Tree fern is wholly protected in...

Read More

Sheoak closeup

Posted in Plants, River-Forest | 0 comments

The She-oak  ( Allocasuarina littoralis )  ‘closed’ forests are remarkably quiet.  It is the most drought resistant  tree in Tasmania.  The needle like foliage is a dull dark grey.  The fallen needles create a soft cushioning mat.

Read More

White gum

Posted in Plants, River-Forest | 0 comments

White gum ( Eucalyptus viminalis), are dominant on the river reserve near the Ada Street shelter. Alongside the river there are moisture-loving herbs, ferns, sedges, rushes and reeds. Paperbark swamplands occur where the Brid River flows into Anderson Bay. A riparian corridor with dense plantings of a range of small native trees and shrubs is important to the restoration of the Riparian reserve. Riparian revegetation practices helps stabilise...

Read More

Swamp-Rat

Posted in Animals, River-Forest | 0 comments

The nocturnal Swamp (velvet-furred)  Rat  ( Rattus Lutreolus) is a native small  mammal, half the size of the introduced  black and brown rats. It forms extensive  systems of runways beneath dense  vegetation.

Read More

Ceremonial Ochre

Posted in leenerrerter, River-Forest | 0 comments

Ochre was an important cultural resource for the  leenerrerter . Aboriginal women obtained and prepared ochre.   It was ground into a sacred powder and used for ceremonial  body and tree marking. It was also mixed with grease to  waterproof the body, hair and beards of the men.  Present day Tasmanian Aborigines still consider ochre to   be a special cultural resource.  Polelerwine  (red ochre) is  highly prized.  ...

Read More