Maldon Urban Landcare Inc. (MULGA)

Urn Heath (Melichrus urceolatus), photo by Robert MacRae

Contact: maldonurbanlandcare@gmail.com

The Maldon Urban Landcare group (MULGA) was established in 1992, making it one of Victoria’s pioneer urban Landcare groups.  Our main objective is to care for and preserve the natural environment in the Maldon area.  We carry out weed control and revegetation activities, mostly in the Maldon Historic Reserve.

Exclusion plots

MULGA obtained grants between 1993 and 2006 to establish 11 small fenced exclosures in parts of the Maldon Historic Reserve, to protect both the existing native vegetation and future natural regeneration from damage by animals, particularly rabbits.  In 2015 photograph albums were uncovered in MULGA’s archives, and which provided some limited information about the exclosures, however the few MULGA members closely involved in the past exclosure work are no longer here to provide more details.  Consequently, significant time and effort by current MULGA members was contributed to locate each exclosure.  A plant identification day, attended by a number of MULGA members, was then held in September 2015, where each exclosure was visited and photographed and a plant identification list for each exclosure was made by Frances Cincotta, from Newstead Natives. The data and location for the 11 fenced exclosures are now entered on the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.

Yam-daisy (Microseris walteri), photo by Robert MacRae

A map showing the location of the 11 exclosures can be found by CLICKING HERE.

For the GPS location for each exclosure CLICK HERE.

Click on a link below to find the plant identification list for each exclosure:

1. South German 1
2. South German 2
3. South German 3
4. Wattle Gully
5. Phillips Track 1
6. Phillips Track 2
7. Nuggetty 1
8. Nuggetty 2
9. Nuggetty 3
10. Mt. Moorul 1
11. Mt. Moorul 2

Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), estimated age 535 years, Bill Woodfull Reserve, Maldon (photo Frances Cincotta)

Pre-1852 Eucalypts in Maldon

The primary objectives of this project conducted by Maldon Urban Landcare Inc. (MULGA) in 2017-2021 are to obtain detailed records for eucalypts that were growing before 1852 (pre-European settlement) in Maldon, and to achieve long-term protection for these trees under the Mt. Alexander Shire Council Planning Scheme, or an appropriate alternative scheme.  The large, old indigenous eucalypt trees still surviving in the township of Maldon are of significant environmental and historical significance, and are rare examples of pre-European settlement vegetation in an urban setting.

Initial work for this project was carried out by the late Wendy French in 2009-2010.  In early 2017, MULGA members, assisted by Frances Cincotta from Newstead Natives, conducted a detailed survey of trees with a circumference of at least 1815mm (using formula described below in reverse for trees at least 165 years old), measured at a height of 1.3m (breast height, BH).  Further surveys were conducted by MULGA members from 2018-2021.  The data recorded were the eucalypt species, GPS location, circumference at 1.3m, and a photograph was taken.  The tree diameter at BH over bark (DBHOB) was calculated by circumference/3.14.  An average growth rate of 3.5mm¹ was used for all species recorded and the estimated age was calculated by DBHOB/3.5.  Sites surveyed included public land (Maldon Primary School, Maldon Hospital, Police station land, Bill Woodfull Reserve), private land (including St. Brigid’s Catholic Church), roadsides managed by the Mt. Alexander Shire Council, and parts of the Maldon Historic Reserve (Pond Drive, lower slopes of Anzac Hill, The Butts Reserve, near Stump and Reef Sts).

Of the 273 pre-1852 eucalypts surveyed in Maldon on public and private land (74) and roadsides (199), 46% are Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box), 30% are Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow Box), 8% are Eucalyptus polyanthemos subs. vestita (Red Box), 8% are Eucalyptus leucoxylon subsp. pruinosa (Yellow Gum), 7% are Eucalyptus goniocalyx (Long-leaved Box) and there is 1 Eucalyptus macrorhyncha (Red Stringybark). The surveyed eucalypts are estimated to be aged between 170 and 550 years old; 82% are estimated to be 200-399 years old and there are 10 trees estimated to be aged 400-499 years and 4 trees aged 540-550 years. This means that 82% of the trees are estimated to have started growing between the years of 1622 and 1821, and 14 trees between the years of 1471 and 1621.

In addition, MULGA members surveyed 44 pre-1852 eucalypts on parts of the Maldon Historic Reserve – the lower slopes of Anzac Hill, Pond Drive, part of The Butts at the base of Mt. Tarrengower, and an area near Stump and Reef Sts.  The species recorded are Grey Box (41%), Yellow Box (23%), Long-leaved Box (23%), and Red Box (14%).  All of these trees, estimated to be between 190 and 645 years old, are protected in the Maldon Historic Reserve, which is managed by Parks Victoria.

The data and location for all 317 pre-1852 eucalypts surveyed are now entered on the Victorian Biodiversity Atlas.

CLICK HERE to access the data table for all of the pre-1852 eucalypts. CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE to access three maps with show the location of all of the pre-1852 eucalypts surveyed.  There is also a brochure, Living Treasures, available in the Maldon Visitors Information Centre, which includes information and a map for some of the pre-1852 trees in the central part of Maldon.

References

1. ECC (2001) Box-Ironbark Forests & Woodlands Investigation. Final Report. Environment Conservation Council, Melbourne.
2. DELWP (2016) Biodiversity Interactive Map – 1750 EVCs. Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning, Melbourne.