Box-Gum Grassy Woodland
A critically endangered ecosystem – and a key focus for conservation in our region.
You may have arrived here by scanning a QR code on a sign marking one of the remaining patches of Box-Gum Grassy Woodland in the Ginninderra Catchment.
Only small, scattered areas of this critically endangered ecosystem remain, yet they support a rich diversity of native plants and animals.
What are Grassy Woodlands?
Grassy Woodlands are unique ecosystems characterised by:
- An open canopy of primarily eucalypt trees
- A diverse understory of Australian native grasses and wildflowers
- Scattered shrubs
Box-Gum Grassy Woodland is an iconic type, typically dominated by:
- Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora)
- Blakely’s Red Gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi)
Once widespread from Victoria to Queensland, it is now critically endangered, with over 95% lost since 1788.
In the ACT, some of the best-preserved and highest-quality remnants of Box-Gum Grassy Woodland can be found on the lower slopes of hills and mountains.
What’s happened to it?
Since European settlement:
- Most Box-Gum Grassy Woodland has been cleared for farming and development
- Remaining areas are often fragmented and isolated
In the ACT:
- About 25% of original lowland woodland remains (mostly Box-Gum Grassy Woodland), including some of the largest and most intact remnants in Australia
- Only 29% of this is protected in reserves
This fragmentation makes it harder for species to move, feed and breed.
Key threats
- Urban expansion
- Ground disturbance
- Unsustainable grazing
- Altered fire regimes
- Pest plants and animals
- Climate change
Why it matters
Box-Gum Grassy Woodland provides critical habitat for many species, some of which are now threatened.
Among the threatened plants that rely on this woodland are Button Wrinklewort and Small Purple Pea.
Threatened animals include the Regent Honeyeater, Superb Parrot, Brown Treecreeper, Swift Parrot, Scarlet Robin, and Gang-Gang Cockatoo.
Sadly, some species, such as the Eastern Quoll, are locally extinct.
A local example of conservation: Mulligans Flat
Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary is Australia’s largest Box-Gum Grassy Woodland managed solely for conservation.
It is a leading example of ecological restoration. By removing introduced predators and pests such as foxes and rabbits, the sanctuary has enabled the successful reintroduction of native species. More reintroductions – including threatened species – are planned.
Visitors can explore the area via walking tracks and take part in events that highlight this work.
Find out more about the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary.
A living cultural landscape
In the ACT these woodlands have been cared for over thousands of years by the Ngunawal/Ngunnawal people.
Traditional land management practices, including cultural burns, support healthy, diverse ecosystems.
These connections to Country continue today and are an important part of conservation.
Key sites in the Ginninderra Catchment
Significant remnant Box-Gum Grassy Woodland can be found in the Ginninderra Catchment, including:
- Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve
- The Pinnacle Nature Reserve
- Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve
- Percy Hill Nature Reserve
- Mount Painter Nature Reserve
- Aranda Bushland
- Kuringa Woodland
- Flea Bog Flat
- Hall: Cemetery, Horse Paddocks and Travelling Stock Reserve
- Former CSIRO Ginninderra Field Station
- Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve
- Budjan Galindji Grasslands Nature Reserve
- Old Weetangera Cemetery
- Ginninderry
- Several smaller remnants in Lawson, Mitchell, Mt Rogers, Gossan Hill and Higgins.
Find out more about some of these notable remnant areas.
Our woodland restoration efforts
Ginninderra Catchment Group works to protect remaining woodland, restore degraded areas, and reconnect fragmented habitat.
Our activities include:
- Supporting Landcare groups with planting, weeding and seed sowing
- Training volunteers in bush regeneration techniques
- Partnering on restoration projects, including the former CSIRO Field Station
- Working with the Bush on the Boundary Committee in Ginninderry
- Advocating for woodland conservation in planning and development processes
- Collaborating with government and stakeholders to improve habitat connectivity
How you can help
You can get hands-on with a landcare group! There are many groups in the Ginninderra Catchment dedicated to restoring Box-Gum Grassy Woodland, including:
- Friends of Mulligans Flat
- Friends of The Pinnacle
- Kuringa Woodland Landcare Group
- Friends of Flea Bog Flat
- Higgins Landcare Group
- Friends of Mount Painter
- Friends of Aranda Bushland
- Lawson Landcare Group
- Mount Rogers Landcare Group
- Mulanggang Traditional Aboriginal Landcare Group
- Hall Landcare Group
- Friends of Gossan Hill
You’re invited to come along to group working bees and have a go. Community involvement is essential to protect this precious woodland.
Check our events calendar or contact Ginninderra Catchment Group to get started.
Resources and further reading
- Woodland Flora: A field guide for the Southern Tablelands (NSW and ACT) – by Sarah Sharp, Rainer Rehwinkel, Dave Mallison and David Eddy. Hard copies available from Friends of Grasslands
- 2019 ACT Native Woodland Conservation Strategy and Action Plans. By the ACT Government
- Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodlands – ACT Government web page. Includes link to Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodlands Action Plan
- Woodland Bird Habitat Restoration Handbook – by Molonglo Conservation Group. Aimed toward the Bungendore region but also relevant to woodlands within the ACT
- Wonderous Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands colouring book, activities and teachers guide – by Molonglo Conservation Group
- ACTmapi – An ACT Government maps resource. Relevant maps include ‘Environment’ (maps of ecosystems, threatened species habitat, and more), ‘Aerial Imagery’ and ‘Historic Plans’ which can both be used to compare with current satellite imagery
- A Guide to Managing Box Gum Grassy Woodlands – by Kimberlie Rawlings, David Freudenberger and David Carr
- Species Profile and Threats Database: White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland – Legal status and documents for this ecological community as protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwth)
- Friends of Grasslands and Grassy Woodlands (FOG) – volunteer group doing hands-on and advocacy work to restore and protect grassland and woodland ecosystems in the ACT