Lobethal Bushland Park provides habitat for a diverse
range of flora and fauna, including Rare Maiden Hair Ferns
and Leafy Greenhood Orchids.
The Native Orchid Society has catalogued 33 species of
native orchid (some of which were thought to be extinct)
within the Park.
There are up to 100 bird species and 270 indigenous
(native) plant species.
15% of the flora are rare and vulnerable, including
some species that are not found outside the park.
Bushland Park is located at
Lobethal,
South Australia,
on the Kenton Valley Road.
It has a picnic area with a playground
overlooking a lake and walking trails
with a great deal of flora and fauna.
During the 19th and early 20th century, before
reticulated water was available to the towns in
the Onkaparinga Valley, two reservoirs in a
118 hectare property supplied water to the
town of Lobethal and its major industry,
the Onkaparinga Woolen Mills.
Early in 1982 the land was declared
surplus to the requirements of the
E & WS Department, and it was offered
to the District Council of Onkaparinga.
In December 1986 Lobethal Bushland Park
was officially opened by the Governor
Sir Donald B Dunstan.
The Recovery of Burnt Trees
This information was sourced (edited) from the City of Whittlesea Bushfire Recovery
fact sheet
Burnt trees – Will they re-grow?
There have been many enquiries from landowners asking whether trees will regrow or are simply
dead following the recent fires.
In some cases trees will not regrow due to the extreme fire intensity experienced in a number
of areas.
Generally, however, most trees, especially Eucalypts, are expected to regenerate in time as they
have evolved adaptations to withstand bushfires.
The following are examples of the various adaptations some native plants
have evolved to survive bushfires:
Epicormic buds
Trees with rough bark, such as Red Stringy Bark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha) and Messmate (Eucalyptus
obliqua) have epicormic buds (dormant growth buds) deep beneath the bark which are protected from
fire. When the tree is burnt and the foliage removed, the epicormic buds are triggered into life
and they start to grow. Once these buds sprout, the tree then begins to regrow all the lost foliage,
and gradually recovers in time.
The first few leaves to sprout from these epicormic buds may look
very different to the leaves that were on the tree before it was burnt. These first few leaves are
juvenile leaves and will soon be replaced by adult leaves which are often larger.
Lignotubers
Some other eucalypts regenerate from underground lignotubers which are large roots from which the
tree can sprout new growth.
Although the above-ground part of the tree may not survive being burnt, the lignotuber and
root-system remains alive. These trees should be left alone as their removal will damage the
lignotubers and may prevent the tree from successfully regrowing.
In time, these trees will often develop multi-stem trunks and provide important habitat for local
wildlife.
Regrowth
Other plants such as Tree Ferns (Cyathea australis and Dicksonia antarctica) and Grass Trees
(Xanthorrhoea australis) have also developed ingenious ways to withstand bushfires, including
dense, fibrous trunks.
These plants simply reshoot and recover quite quickly. Many local landowners have remarked that
tree ferns located in gullies and along watercourses started to resprout only weeks after the
fires. Many indigenous plants, including Grass Trees, rely on fire to remove the build up of
leaves and dead material.
Once burnt, flower-spikes, which will develop numerous seeds, are often the first sign that the
Grass Tree is alive.
Seed storage – crown
Other plants may not survive bushfires but have instead developed ways to ensure that their
species will still persist into the future.
A number of smooth barked eucalypt species, such as Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans), rarely
survive bushfires and have instead evolved other ways to regenerate following fire.
Seeds stored in capsules (gum-nuts) in the treecanopy are released following fire, then germinate
en-masse once conditions become favourable, ensuring the survival of the species.
Seed storage – soil
Wattle trees (Acacia species) have developed seeds with hard coats which are stored in the leaf
litter and soil.
Many of these seeds have been buried underground by ants busily building up food stores to feed
their colonies. The heat of the fire cracks the seedcoats and triggers germination. Many
properties in Kinglake West have experienced a carpet of tiny seedlings emerging from the blackened
ground.
In time, these seedlings will thin themselves out naturally and gradually replace the mid-storey
vegetation, providing an important food source for local possums and birds as they recolonise bushfire
affected areas.
DISCLAIMER: The advice in this publication is intended as a source of information only.
Note:-
This Fact Sheet was prepared for the City of Whittlesea, north of Melbourne, Victoria,
but is also relevant
to our area.
These two photos show the start of the recovery process in Lobethal Bushland Park.
Both photos were taken in the same location.
The first photo was taken 17th January and the second on 18th February 2020.
(Photo (©) - Peg & Bill Chartres' collection - 2020)
(Photo (©) - Peg & Bill Chartres' collection - 2020