Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary

History of the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary

A brief history

The first people - aboriginal occupation until 1835

The area that the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary now occupies was once occupied by Aborigines who were aligned to the Kurnaj-berring tribe of the Wurundjeri clan (Bircanin and Short, 1995). No one knows how long the area had been used by humans, but it is probably at least several thousand years. Unfortunately, much of the Aboriginal history of the area was lost very early on after the arrival of Europeans. Aboriginal flaked stone artefacts were discovered scattered over some parts of the Sanctuary during a 1996 survey (Freslov, 1997).

Within the Bundoora and surrounding area many large wetlands existed and these were frequently utilised by the local Aborigines. Early Europeans to the area observed the rich nature of these wetlands in particular the abundance of wetland birds such as Brolgas and ducks. Even during prolonged droughts wetlands provided plentiful supply of edible plants, eels, freshwater mussels, fish, snakes and snaked-necked tortoises. Evidence of the use by Aborigines of the area is observable in the scars on trees and fragments of stone tools.

Early European settlement 1835

When the first Europeans arrived in the Bundoora area (formerly the Parish or Keelbundora) in 1835 they found the area with the appearance of "parkland": well spaced trees with an understorey of grasses, herbs and forbs. The area was originally surveyed by William Wedge-Darke, an assistant to the chief surveyor of the Port Phillip District - Robert Hoddle 1837. The main reason for the surveying of the area was to allow the sale of land. Up until this time the area was controlled by members of the Port Phillip Association (including John Batman) who grazed their sheep throughout the area without regards to traditional owners - the Wurundjeri. The auction for the land took place in Melbourne in 1838 and the Bundoora area was divided into two sections of approximately 400 hectares. Most of the land was bought by land speculators and the wealthy and within a few months was resold as much smaller forms of 100 to 300 acres. The farms were mostly used for sheep grazing and grain production. The wheat produced in the area was considered of high quality. Within the Wildlife Reserves you can observe fence posts which date from the time of settlement. These were cut from local timber, either Red Gum or Yellow Box.

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Early urban development

During the 1850's increasing infrastructure was being constructed; roads, water supplies, sewerage etc. Much of the waste water was directed to low lying areas of land while any other low lying wetlands were drained to allow for agriculture. The area now occupied by the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary was subdivided during this period. In 1908 the area was purchased by the Lands Purchase Board for "Closer Settlement Purposes".

Hospital development - Mont Park 1910 to 1965

In 1910 the Inspector General for the Insane commenced the construction of farm cottages, including a 500,000 gallon (2,275,000 litres) water tank on Mount Sugar Loaf (now called Gresswell Hill). This was to become an extensive area set aside for the treatment of psychiatric patients. The hospitals were self sufficient in food with extensive areas of gardens for the production of every conceivable type of food including pigs, milk, grains, vegetables and fruit trees. During this period two major wars occurred in which Australians participated. The hospitals were heavily used by the military for returned soldiers suffering from pyschiatric or other illnesses. Also, during this period, there were various recreational facilities constructed, including and oval and tennis courts. Many species of exotic plants were planted and many can still be seen around the Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining Crown Land Nature Conservation Reserves. While some of these were for agriculture purposes most were planted for ornamental reasons.

La Trobe University 1965 - 1999

On 26th October 1965, 530 hectares was excised for the Mental Hospital Reserve. This corresponded with the closure of the Hospital farm in 1965. The original sanctuary was only 6.5 hectares and has been added to over a number of years to now total 28.8 hectares (not including Gresswell Forest and Gresswell Habitat Link). Since the establishment of the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary there has been an extensive program of exotic plant eradication and the re-establishing of the local (indigenous) species of plants. The major management issue faced by the staff of the sanctuary is exotic plant invasion and introduced animals (fox cat, starling, Indian Mynah).

Gresswell Forest Nature Conservation Reserves (NCR) became under the management control of the La Trobe University in 1978. The Gresswell Habitat Link is the most recent addition to the sanctuary project, with management control being passed from Department of Natural Resources and Environment in 1996. The Habitat Link was established to provide a link between Gresswell Forest and the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary. Since 1970s The Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary has created a network of great wetlands that assist in the filtration and health of surrounding suburbs and ecosystems.

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Some historic sites

While the main aim of the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary is the restoration and protection of the indigenous flora and fauna, it is also concerned with the impact humans have had on the landscape. Old buildings and fences form part of the history of the site and provide information on the impact of various land practices on the native plants and animals. It is thought that humans have been using the site for hundreds if not thousands of years.

Old tip site

During works to cover an old tip site soil was removed from nearby areas. This exposed a number of stone fragments which were composed of a rock called "silcrete". This is a rock which was commonly used to make stone tools by the local Aborigines. Silcrete is not known to occur at this site and is thought to have been brought in from several kilometres away possibly as a trading item. The tip was used by the hospitals for many years and is thought to contain many historic objects from hospitals.

Scar tree

This tree and others like it in the Bundoora area has had bark removed by Aborigines. These scars can be small (less than 1 metre diameter) or large (over 5 metres). Bark was used for canoes, huts, bowls, shields and other day to day items. The one found in the Melbourne Wildlife Sanctuary is large and may have been used for a canoe.

Old amenity building

This is a more recent indication of human occupation of the site. These amenity blocks are thought to date from around 1940's when pyschiatric patients were working on the farms in the area. Several amenity blocks were constructed by patients and one has been excavated and surveyed by Dr. Phillip Edwards of the School of Archaeology. Dunny Report

Cricket Ground, Tennis Courts & Croquet Lawns

These formed part of the Mont Park Hospital and are thought to have been constructed during the early 1900's through to the 1930's. It was used by hospital staff and patients, returned servicemen and local sporting groups. The black volcanic clay used (as also used on the MCG pitch) does not allow the growth of many woody plants. The foundations of various buildings associated with the oval can also be found. The oval has now been transformed into the Brindley Backwater - a wetland to assist in the filtration process of stormwater from new surrounding suburbs.

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River Red Gums

Following the arrival of Europeans, much of the indigenous vegetation disappeared. When La Trobe University was established, what native vegetation remained was degraded and invaded by exotic plants. What remained was a reminder of the past woodland were River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). These magnificent trees, many over 400 years old, dominate the site. Unfortunately some have died over the last decade due to the combination of insect and possum attack and increased competition with younger trees.

References

Bircanin I. and Short, A (1995) Glimpses of the past - Mont Park, Larundel, Plenty. National Library of Australia; Canberra.

Edwards, P. (1998) Towards a social history of the La Trobe University Wildlife Reserves: an investigation of the 'Historical Dunny' on the former Mont Park Hospital Farm. Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria

Freslov, J. (1997) Preliminary Archaelogical investigations of the La Trobe University Wildlife Reserves. Draft unpublished report prepared for La Trobe University Wildlife Reserves. Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria

Kenna, L. (1988) In the beginning there was only land Lions Club of Bundoora: Bundoora, Victoria