Tyers - Jean Galbraith Reserve
The Jean Galbraith Reserve is a flora reserve which is a tribute to the renowned local botanist and writer, Jean Galbraith. There is a short, leisurely walk to showcase the native flora on display.
This was the first wildlife sanctuary and one of the first privately donated reserves in the State of Victoria, established with the assistance of the Native Plants Preservation Society, donated by the Galbraith family to the Shire of Traralgon in 1936.
The walk around the Reserve follows a 200m trail that has been created in honour of Jean Galbraith, a resident of the township of Tyers from 1906 - 1999, who is internationally renowned for her skills as a botanist and writer. A close friend of the famous landscape architect Edna Walling, Galbraith was widely considered to be Walling's natural successor as well as a national treasure.
Jean authored many books that received high acclaim. She started writing when she was 19, and was widely published from the age of 26. For 50 years, she contributed monthly to The Garden Lover and the Victorian Naturalist. She also authored the occasional article for The Age. In 1939, she published a collection of her articles in Garden in a Valley. In 1970, she was the recipient of the Australian Natural History Medallion The native Mint Bush (Prostanthera galbraithiae) was named in honour of her role as a co-discoverer of this species and to salute her advocacy for the protection of Australian flora.
The Latrobe Valley Field Naturalists recorded an extensive list of flora in the Reserve in 1967, but over time, many species were impacted by weed invasion and a loss of interest in maintaining the site. This changed in 1999 when an enthusiastic group of residents in the Tyers township formed to resurrect the Reserve and highlight its botanical and historical significance. No doubt, this reawakening was partially triggered by the passing of Galbraith that same year. Funding from the National Heritage Trust and the Latrobe City Council has assisted the group's efforts, and the work continues.
The historic homestead, Dunedin - This is the home Jean was raised in and lived at until well past her 80th year. You can see the rooftop clearly as you look across the road from the Reserve's gate.
Location
5 Mount Hope Road, Tyers 3844 Map
Web Links
→ Jean Galbraith Reserve, Tyers (Walking Maps)
→ Jean Galbraith (Finding Her)
