Kurrawonga Reserve
Kurrawonga Reserve is a 40-hectare private conservation property managed by Nature Glenelg Trust in western Victoria, Australia.[1] It is located near the town of Nelson and borders the Lower Glenelg National Park.
History
The property was donated by Bill and Kate Moore's adult children in 2018 to Nature Glenelg Trust. The Moore family previously used Kurrawonga as a weekender where the family would retreat from Mount Gambier to a cottage within the brown stringy-bark and manna gum forest. Following its acquisition by Nature Glenelg Trust, there are ongoing efforts to ensure the intact remnant bushland remains in an excellent condition.[2]
Ecology
Kurrawonga Reserve is notable as an area of intact remnant bushland in excellent condition and for being an adjoining area to the Lower Glenelg National Park. It hosts a wide range of native mammals including Red-necked wallabies, Brushtail possum, Echidna, Southern brown bandicoot and the near threatened Swamp antechinus.[3]
Mammals[4]
| Common name | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Common Brushtail Possum | Trichosurus vulpecula | 377 |
| Swamp Wallaby | Wallabia bicolor | 99 |
| Red-necked Wallaby | Notamacropus rufogriseus banksianus | 45 |
| Short-beaked Echidna | Tachyglossus aculeatus | 34 |
| Southern Brown Bandicoot (eastern) | Isoodon obesulus obesulus | 13 |
| Eastern Grey Kangaroo | Macropus giganteus | 8 |
| Koala | Phascolarctos cinereus | 3 |
| Fox | Vulpes vulpes | 3 |
| Southern Brown Bandicoot | Isoodon obesulus | 2 |
| Long-nosed Potoroo | Potorous tridactylus trisulcatus | 2 |
| Common Ringtail Possum | Pseudocheirus peregrinus | 2 |
| Bush Rat | Rattus fuscipes | 2 |
| Swamp Antechinus | Antechinus minimus maritimus | 1 |
| Sugar Glider | Petaurus breviceps | 1 |
Birds[4]
| Common name | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Common Bronzewing | Phaps (Phaps) chalcoptera | 20 |
| Emu | Dromaius novaehollandiae | 10 |
| Australian Magpie | Gymnorhina tibicen | 9 |
| Grey Shrike-thrush | Colluricincla (Colluricincla) harmonica | 8 |
| Grey Currawong | Strepera (Neostrepera) versicolor | 8 |
| Grey Fantail | Rhipidura (Rhipidura) albiscapa | 7 |
| Red Wattlebird | Anthochaera (Anthochaera) carunculata | 6 |
| Galah | Eolophus roseicapilla | 6 |
| Eastern Yellow Robin | Eopsaltria (Eopsaltria) australis | 6 |
| Crimson Rosella | Platycercus (Platycercus) elegans | 6 |
| Brown Thornbill | Acanthiza (Acanthiza) pusilla | 5 |
| White-throated Treecreeper | Cormobates leucophaea | 5 |
| Rufous Bristlebird | Dasyornis (Maccoyornis) broadbenti | 5 |
| New Holland Honeyeater | Phylidonyris (Meliornis) novaehollandiae | 5 |
| White-browed Scrubwren | Sericornis (Sericornis) frontalis | 5 |
Reptiles[4]
| Common name | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|
| Highlands Forest-skink | Anepischetosia maccoyi | 1 |
| Striated Worm-lizard | Aprasia striolata | 1 |
| Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink | Lampropholis guichenoti | 1 |
| White's Skink | Liopholis whitii | 1 |
| Southern Grass Skink | Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii | 1 |
Conservation significance
At the lower reaches of the Glenelg River, Kurrawonga Reserve, together with Lower Glenelg National Park, lies within one of Australia's 15 national biodiversity hotspots.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Portland Observer, Monday April 2nd 2018 p8
- ^ "The donation of Kurrawonga generates a lot of interest! - Nature Glenelg Trust". 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ "ABC South West Victoria". ABC South West Victoria. 2025-08-22. Retrieved 2025-08-22.
- ^ a b c "Atlas of Living Australia". Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "Glenelg System". Victorian Environmental Water Holder. Retrieved 22 August 2025.