AABR End-of-Year Blue Gum Bushwalk
Late in 2024, AABR hosted the Blue Gum Walk, Talk & Gawk. The Blue Gum Walk is in northern Sydney starting in Hornsby linking Rosemead Road Park to the Fishponds and The Great North Walk.
The day was a wonderful success, bringing together 17 attendees from across Sydney and the Central Coast.
Set amidst the towering Blue Gums and with the symphony of cicadas, the walk highlighted the beauty and ecological importance of one of NSW’s most threatened vegetation communities. A special thanks goes to attendees from Hornsby Shire Council, who shared fascinating insights into the site’s history and the restoration efforts that have been undertaken in the area.
The group engaged in lively discussions about bush regeneration techniques, exchanging ideas and experiences. Following the walk, we enjoyed a relaxed picnic at Rosemead Reserve, which provided the perfect opportunity to connect and reflect on the day.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the day so memorable. Your enthusiasm and contributions were greatly appreciated!
Peta Lilley- Photos supplied by Peta show the magic of the forest.
Blue Gum High Forest
Blue Gum High Forest in the Sydney Basin Bioregion is listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) and nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth).
Blue Gum High Forest’s modelled pre–1750 extent is 3720 ha. In 1997, only 168 ha or 4.5% of the original extent of Blue Gum High Forest remained as better quality remnant patches.
Rosemead Road Bushcare
The Blue Gum Walk starts at Rosemead Road Park. It continues through Berowra Valley National Park to Fishponds Waterhole, an iconic waterhole on Berowra Creek. Historically, the waterhole was used as a swimming and fishing area by many local residents until the 1960s, when Hornsby pool was built. The Fishponds area provides an important water source and habitat for local wildlife.
The Rosemead Road Bushcare group, one of Hornsby Bushcare program’s earliest volunteer groups, was started in 1989 by members of Hornsby Conservation Society and was later incorporated into Hornsby’s Bushcare program. The Bushcare site contains a significant remnant of Blue Gum Diatreme Forest. The soil is predominantly derived from Hawkesbury Sandstone, with some Volcanic Diatreme derived soils.
A Local Land Services grant under the Central Coast Landscape Incentives Program – Riparian Rehabilitation provided funding for 2 years 2019-2021.
Work undertaken included weed control along Waitara Creek (a tributary of Berowra Creek) from West Hornsby Waste Water Treatment Plant downstream to Fishponds. The dominant vegetation community in the work area is classified as Coachwood Rainforest (Smith & Smith, 2008), which is a regionally significant community. Although the riparian zone contains large remnants of healthy native vegetation, it is also affected by significant weed plumes. Weed infestations are a result of past disturbances from creek channelling works. The upper section of Waitara Creek has traditionally been affected by high nutrient concentrations.
Work undertaken by bush regenerators aims at increasing the resilience levels of native patches along Waitara Creek and reducing the further spread of invasive species, connecting remnant patches, improving habitat, and containing weedy groundcover species. The main weeds are privets Privet Ligustrum, Lantana camara, Balloon vine Cardiospermum grandiflorum, Morning glory Ipomoea indica, and both Crofton weed Ageratina adenophora and Mistflower Ageratina riparia.
Fishponds waterhole – P Brodie
Bushcare volunteers and students from the local Asquith Boys High School Environmental Club participated in weed removal field trips in May 2021 at Fishponds. More could have been done with the community, but COVID restrictions got in the way.
During 2024-2025, there were168 volunteer hours contributed.
Hornsby Council has focused on Blue Gum High Forest over the last couple of years as part of a NSW Environmental Trust grant. The grant made it possible to create a video for Blue Gum High Forest to help educate the public. To view this video and obtain information about the area, visit the web page below:
JP Kecman Hornsby Council Bushcare Officer
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