Rattray Road Reserve (Montmorency)

The Rattray Road Reserve is a 1.87 hectare reserve and is one of the smaller conservation reserves found in Montmorency. It protects and enhances indigenous vegetation, and helps encourage local fauna to thrive. There is a walking track through its middle and a mown firebreak around its border.

Activities in the park include wildlife observation.

History

The reserve was originally part of a local farm called Montmorency Estate, owned by Stuart Donaldson, a merchant and first premier of NSW. It was used for grazing cows during the 1930s and 1940s.

During World War II, it was used as a storage area for army supplies. In the 1950s, it was a convenient dumping place for building rubbish.

In the mid-1970s housing was proposed for the area. However, as a result of public opposition and a university study that found it was a haven for birds, with over 100 species recorded, it became a reserve. The reserve was neglected for many, with grass fires in the 1980s.

Many woody weeds, broom and ivy have been removed. Since 2004, there has been regular planting days.

Flora and Fauna

The reserve has 2 types of vegetation community; the top of the hill is grassy dry forest/box stringybark woodland, yellow box dominated and the lower half of the hill is valley grassy forest, longleaf box/candlebark dominated. Both are considered regionally threatened.

There are many species growing here, including purple coral pea, chocolate lily and bulbine lily.