History and Geology

Mt Rothwell’s Herb Rich Woodlands area is a 170-hectare area to the south, and it contains an open grassy woodland habitat with very high conservation values. The presence of this old-growth woodland was one of the main reasons why the property was purchased.

Historically, this area was mainly used for lambing, and as a source of emergency shelter or fodder. There is also a large central grassy area where the Chirnsides practiced polo.

5klm of feral-proof fence protects this area alone and it was finished Dec 2000, with an intensive and integrated feral eradication program required through 2001-02. Some 1,200 warrens were treated and over 5000 rabbits removed. As the vegetation community is relatively undisturbed, little revegetation work has been required, except for about 3000 understorey shrubs that have been planted.

Most of the animal releases have occurred into this zone, mainly in 2002. Eastern Quolls released in Nov 2003; Eastern Barred Bandicoots in Oct 2004.
 
The Plains Grasslands and Granitic Hills Woodland areas total approximately 300 ha to the north east and are also fully fenced with 7klm of electrified feral proof fence.

The granitic hills are 150m above sea level, running in an east-west direction through the middle of the sanctuary. Endangered basalt grasslands lie to the north and east. Numerous remnants of indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses are scattered throughout this area, particularly on the granitic hills that have luckily never been ploughed.

Revegetation projects by Earth Sanctuaries had included planting trees and shrubs in the grasslands, including a Koala forest with over 10,000 seedlings of 7 different species of indigenous Eucalypts and an ‘Amphitheatre’ planting of 7,000 flowering Australian natives.

The Mt Rothwell plains grasslands form some of the most significant patches of this critically endangered ecosystem left in Victoria. Some of the remnant flora at Mt. Rothwell is believed to be in the largest known populations of these species left. As such, no further plantings into this area will be carried out, other than those necessary to restore and enhance the grassland species present.

4 additional species of threatened basalt flora were planted into the grasslands back in July 2004 and to date much of this planting has gone on to flower, seed and survive.

The Themeda Grassland is the small (3.5 acres) area at the entrance of Mt Rothwell. It gets its name from the large patches of Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) found here with numerous other temperate grassland species. As it forms the entrance to Mt Rothwell, It is entirely fenced in as its own area and managed accordingly.

The captive breeding programs for the Eastern Quoll, the Spot Tailed Quoll and the Brush-tailed Phascogale were located in the banks of cages found here and now these cages are being established as Mt. Rothwell’s indigenous plant nursery.