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Henry Littledyke ReserveA Reserve of Natural Bushland and Native Animals, Victoria, Australia.
May 14, 2010 © Harry P. Schlanger
A little-known 56-acre natural state of the country on a hilltop is a perfect peaceful and beautiful oasis for nature lovers.
There is a narrow, gentle winding road atop the hills between Nyora and Poowong. The views from the drive
are quite scenic.
An overall green tinge during this springtime of May can be seen everywhere down the
slopes to the West, dotted with dairy cows or sheep in parcels of properties bordered by fences, lush
trees and bushes.
In the valley below, farmers' homesteads are visible by their regular shapes. At a distance, there are
panoramic views of Mt. Baw Baw and Western Port Bay.
Henry Littledyke a Natural Reserve
About 6 km before one arrives at Poowong to the North, on the right of the road is situated the Henry
Littledyke Reserve, formerly
known as the Nyora Railway Reserve. Driving by, one would hardly notice the entrance, which consists of
an unmade grassy road of the width of a car. This leads into a small but quaint picnic area with benches
and an information stand.
The fauna and flora reserve is one, if not the only area left in the district where the general
public can see the natural state of the country and native animals, which were there before white man made
his appearance some 130 years ago.
Historical Background of Littledyke Reserve
The Victorian Railways bought the property from Henry Littledyke in 1909 to service water for the Steam
Trains at Nyora, until the line closed recently. It has a reservoir originally built using horses and
dredges, and is now home to wildfowl and a watering place for the native animals during the dry part of
the year.
Flora and Fauna
A large variety of frogs live in the water and locals say that
Tiger
and
Copperhead
snakes have been sighted.
Wombat holes are thick in parts. The area is a very important
breeding ground for birds and bees that are important to the surrounding farms. The reserve has never been
cleared and is a good sample of the original kinds of timber that once covered the area, for example:
- Messmate
- Wattles
- Teatree
- Eucalypts
The large trees, mostly Messmate provide shelter to birds and animals. For example:
- Possums
- Brushtails and Ringtails
- Echidnas
- Brown Bandicoots
- Kookaburras
- Owls
- Perigrin Falcons
- Robins and Wrens
Don't Forget Your Camera
The visitor to the reserve should bring a camera to take snaps of the natural flora and fauna. Walking
near the reservoir, it does not take too long before curious wrens and robins come to perch nearby the
human visitor. It takes quite an effort to "capture" a good shot of these birds since they are so small
and are in a constant state of motion.
Being present in such serene environment is especially refreshing to the psyche - breathing in the country
fresh air, taking in the natural smells of the surrounds, and listening to the sweet sounds of birds. To
fully appreciate this nature's gift, one needs to spend time there and be observant - the rewards are
great indeed.
The reserve is owned by Parks Victoria and has been adopted by the Local Landcare groups. Parks Victoria
advocate a
safe park visit
by wearing suitable shoes or boots. When a snake is seen, the walker should not
panic but stand still or stomp - since snakes are shy and nearly always move away when they feel footstep vibrations.
References:
- 'Henry Littledyke Reserve - Formerly Nyora Railway Reserve'. Reserve Brochure. Parks Victoria.
The copyright of the article Henry Littledyke Reserve: A Reserve of Natural Bushland and Native Animals, Victoria, Australia. is owned by Harry P. Schlanger. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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