Protecting ’s Environment – Building ’s National Reserve System PorterHill

Image: Leigh Woolley Natural and cultural values secured

Cartwright Reserve

Truganini Conservation Area

Pearce Reserve

he Hobart City Council, in This purchase forms a wooded link many organisations and community Porter Hill partnership with the Australian across Mt Nelson and almost down to the groups, including Friends of Porter Hill, TGovernment, has acted to acquire foreshore of the Derwent, preserv- who worked with us to achieve a one of Hobart’s most prominent and ing the City’s distinctive skyline, creating successful outcome. significant tracts of land – Porter Hill. an unbroken natural corridor for wildlife Work to protect Porter Hill’s important Under the agreement with the and ensuring that this valuable bushland environmental values has already begun. , the Hobart City is protected from development for the In the coming year a management plan Council will enter into a secure and benefit of our community. for the site will be prepared to guide binding conservation covenant to The Hobart City Council acknowledges the longer term management of the site, ensure that the area’s environmental previous owners the Dorney family’s including the positioning of walking values are preserved forever. long and responsible stewardship of tracks allowing the people of Hobart to Porter Hill. The Council also recognises experience this wonderful place. the support and commitment of the

Looking south from Porter Hill Australian Government Support PorterHill Image: Nick Osborne The Hobart City Council gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the Australian Government in contributing $1 million through the National Reserve System Programme to complete the purchase of Porter Hill. The National Reserve System is a nation-wide network of reserves set up to protect Australia’s unique natural environment for current and future generations.

A vision achieved N

Cartwright Reserve

Truganini Conservation Area

* n the late 19th century, Sir Lambert Pearce Reserve 2006 Dobson donated much of the area Inow known as Lambert Park to the Porter Hill . By the 1950s, the Hobart 1995 City Council had began its program of land acquisition and purchase in the Mount Nelson area, with the aim of 1995 preserving significant sections of Mount Nelson’s wooded slopes and skyline. 2000 Porter Hill is a key link in the chain of existing reserves that includes Formerly Skyline Reserve * Bicentennial Park, Cartwright Reserve 2002 and Pearce’s Reserve. Together, these reserves totalling over 160 hectares of Council land protect 2003 environmental values and provide valuable recreational opportunities for 2002 Hobart residents and visitors to our City. 1999

Bicentennial Park

Bushland Reserves

Area managed by PorterHill Parks & Wildlife Service

Lambert Park John Watt Beattie Ferry ‘Lurgurena’ with Mount Nelson in the background (c1920s) * Purchased in partnerhsip with Australian Government Collection: Beattie Studios A vision achieved orter Hill’s woodland and forest environment provides habitat for birds such as the

N Pforty-spotted pardalote and the endangered swift parrot, and for native animals like the eastern barred bandicoot, brown bandicoot, potoroo and Tasmanian bettong. The area is one of the few places in Tasmania where these small marsupials occur together. * n the late 19th century, Sir Lambert The area has stands of white peppermint, white 2006 Dobson donated much of the area gum, Tasmanian blue gum and drooping sheoak, Inow known as Lambert Park to the as well as tall wallaby grass, rare in Tasmania. City of Hobart. By the 1950s, the Hobart The inclusion of Porter Hill protects an important 1995 City Council had began its program of wildlife corridor formed by Mount Nelson’s linked land acquisition and purchase in the series of reserves. This will improve the sustain- Mount Nelson area, with the aim of ability of the area’s birds and marsupials and 1995 preserving significant sections of Mount reduce the impact of adjoining development on Nelson’s wooded slopes and skyline. native vegetation. Porter Hill is a key link in the chain 2000 Grassy blue gum forest of existing reserves that includes Image: Nick Osborne Formerly Skyline Reserve * Bicentennial Park, Cartwright Reserve 2002 and Pearce’s Reserve. Together, these reserves totalling over 160 hectares of Council land protect 2003 environmental values and provide valuable recreational opportunities for Hobart residents and visitors to our City. 2002 Swift parrot Eastern barred bandicoot Image: Dave Watts Image: Hans & Annie Wapstra 1999

Bicentennial Park

Bushland Reserves

Area managed by Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service

Lambert Park John Watt Beattie Ferry ‘Lurgurena’ with Mount Nelson in the background (c1920s) * Purchased in partnerhsip with Australian Government Collection: Beattie Studios Nature at Hobart’s doorstep Looking ahead he Porter Hill property includes Fort Nelson, a former defence Tfacility established in 1909. The site also contains the family home of noted architect, Esmond Dorney. The future of the Fort Nelson site is expected to be determined after a comprehensive investigation of the site is completed. A steering committee including community representatives will be SANDY

established to develop and implement a BAY N ROAD management plan for Porter Hill.

SANDY NUE Extensive community consultation will To Regent St AVE

& City BAY P ROAD E E L NUE ST be a feature of the process. RT AVE NELSON MBE Lambert LA The plan will include recommendations C Bend 1 H U Park NELSON R R C E T H A on how to manage issues such as walking IL W T

L N 50 E W R Bend 3 E D track development, control of environ-

R

O A mental weeds, emergency access and Bend 5 D fire management. Bend Bend 7 2 A VE The link formed by Porter Hill opens N UE Bend B ED NELSON 4

D 100 an opportunity to extend walking tracks O M B E IR N G A STREET Rivulet N A from the adjoining reserves. However, AVENUE Bend 6 SANDY until formal entrance points to the WAY MOUTH Image: Geoffrey Lea AVE BAY To Sandy or many years, Mount Nelson’s enjoyable day-walks, such as the recently- ACUSHLA Porter Hill property have been finalised,

CT Bay Rd

2 & 0

bushland reserves have provided completed ascent from Lambert Park to 0 ENTERPRISE

ROAD 1 the site will only be open to the public

50 RO

AD

0 5

a range of recreational activities, the Mount Nelson Signal Station, from 1 as part of a program of guided walks.

bert F 200

To Hobart & Lam including walking, wildlife observation, where the track then descends through 250 Kingston via Southern Outlet

the study of native flora, landscape Truganini Conservation Area and 250 Skyline OLINDA Reserve

painting, sketching and photography, as Cartwright Reserve to reach the GROVE Lambert

R IA L well as the inspiration and enjoyment of at Taroona. Walkers A N N A

H being close to nature, close to the centre enjoy spectacular vistas of the City, 300 of a capital city. Mt Wellington, the and

R

ROAD iv

u

le

In the years ahead, the inclusion of the mouth of the , as it broadens NELSON t MT NELSON Porter Hill in the network of reserves into . 340 Mt Nelson Signal will offer Hobart residents and visitors Local residents have always appreciated ROAD Station enhanced opportunity to experience the the area’s natural values and continue to 0 300m Contour interval 10m natural environment. support them through a number of active There’s already a variety of walking Bushcare Groups. Bushcare volunteers Long nosed-potoroo tracks in the Mount Nelson area, from are involved in bush regeneration, Image: Hans & Annie Wapstra short and easy bushland strolls to plantings, weed removal, rivulet monitoring and wildlife observation.