Long Forest Mallee
MELTON WEST VIC 3337 - Property No L10180
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Statement of Significance
About half the area is a community of Mallee species, dominated by the Bull Mallee (E. behriana); the nearest Mallee communities are some 100 miles north west. This area is unique in carrying the only True Australian Mallee community in Australia, East or South of the Great Divide. It is surrounded and buffered by low woodland (with Red Box, Grey Box and White Ironbark tree species) which is included in the classified area. The area is classified primarily for scientific reasons but has very substantial landscape values, especially along both creeks and where the Western Highway crosses the Djerriwarrah gorge. Here the scenery is greatly enhanced by the striking topography and the unusual clumps of Bull Mallee on both sides of the road.
Apart from the Bull Mallee (E. behriana) and the other three Eucalyptus species, there are over a dozen herbaceous or shrubby Mallee species, and in all 187 species of flowering plants and many interesting species of mosses, lichens and fungi. About 140 species of birds has been recorded, many insects - including some rare ants; Kangaroos, Wallabies, Koalas and Spiny Ant-eaters still survive. The area has been extensively investigated by ecologists and is regarded as a valuable field laboratory. The vegetation has survived because it has remained unburnt for 90 years and grows on very barren soils of great interest: highly alkaline solenetz and skeletal soils over slates with massive sandstone bands that support inliers of Mallee, like Red Box (E. polyanthemos). There is a marked rainfall gradient up the Long Forest Road.
LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES:
It extends on both sides of the Long Forest Road north and south of the Western Highway near Melton, with outliers west of Lake Merrimu south of the Toolern Vale Road.
Note: Classified boundary varies from Long Forest Nature Conservation Reserve boundary.
Classified: 1974
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HO94 - John Campbell Miles FarmhouseMelton City
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Long Forest MalleeNational Trust
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Eucalyptus behrianaNational Trust
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