BIODIVERSITY GARDEN BED Web Sites: Friends of Swan Reserve www.warrnambool.org/fosr The Swan Reserve Biodiversity Bed will help you learn about the vast diversity and cultural significance of local to the Warrnambool region. The south-west region of Victoria is home to over 1000 species of indigenous plants, many of which are now rare, vulnerable or endangered. On display here are a number of threatened species, such as the spreading Dune Fan-flower (Scaevola calendulacea- Left) and the Coast A Waterwise Garden Exists Only On Rainfall Once Established Bitter-bush (Adriana quadripartita) LIKE US ON FACEBOOK at which is the only food source for the

larvae of the Bitter-bush Blue Butterfly. Butterflies are a vital part of any garden – https://www.facebook.com/groups/swanreserve/ why not include some indigenous butter- fly-attracting plants in your garden? Australian Plants Society (Vic) www.apsvic.org.au/ Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa), Austral Trefoil (Lotus australis), and Australian Hollyhock (Malva preissiana) are a few other Australian Plants Society - Warrnambool & District Inc. plants butterflies love that you can see in this garden. www.warrnambool.org/sgap

While some plants attract helpful insects, others attract birds Friends of Swan Reserve Inc. with flowers and fruit, helping the to spread its seed. The Prickly Currant-bush (Coprosma quadrifida) provides both Membership Form food and safe nesting spots for small 35 Swan Street, Warrnambool 3280. birds which are protected by the plant’s Email: [email protected] prickly spines. The Common Correa (Correa reflexa - right) is a plant Join Friends of Swan Reserve and popular with both birds and gardeners with many varieties and cultivars avail- Become Part of the Team. able in local plant nurseries. Annual Subscription $10 Single and $15 Family The people of the Mara nation (pronounced maar) have traditionally used several plants dis- For Direct Deposit Bendigo Bank Account No 139866677 played in this garden as food sources. The Native Raspberry BSB No: 633 000 (Rubus parvifolius- Left) and Prickly Currant Bush (Coprosma quadrifida) both provide sweet red Name: …………………………………………… berries in late summer and autumn.

Similarly, the tuberous root of the Address: ………………………………………… Australian Hollyhock (Malva preissi-

ana) was eaten as a mash and also has

medicinal properties. ………………………………………………….

Phone:…………………Amount Paid…………. FUNDED BY NATURE GLENELG TRUST http://natureglenelg.org.au/ Email: …………………………………………… HISTORY OF SWAN RESERVE BED ENDANGERED SPECIES BED (named after Cr. James Swan, Mayor 1927-28) This garden bed contains specimens of the Australian The Endangered Species Bed was established to showcase In May 1883 the site, now known as Swan Reserve, was plant family. The Proteaceae plant family is some of Australia’s more rare and unusual plants. set aside for a livestock saleyards and a general market. The ancient and has no close relationship to other present day saleyards operated until 1970 when increasing traffic, noise families. They are thought to have originated in the Gondwana and odour precipitated a move to Caramut Road. supercontinent where all the southern conti- In the 1970s a tourist information centre was built on the site. nents were joined about In 1976 the 125 million years ago. Warrnambool and After Gondwana broke District Group of up to form the present the Society for day continents of Aus- Growing Australian tralia, Africa, India, Plants was formed Antarctica and South and among its early America, the plants projects was the evolved separately to planting out of form the plants that we garden beds around know today. the Information Centre. This later developed into the Swan An example of this are the Some of the plants in this garden bed are: Reserve Native Plant Waterwise Garden. , and Acacia lasiocarpa (Dune Moses) from Australia sericea (Dwarf Woolly Bush) Later, tourist services were relocated to Flagstaff Hill. The and the and (Bull Banksia) Swan Reserve building is currently occupied by children’s leucodendrons from South (Silver Banksia) services and a kindergarten. Africa. Australia has over Prostrate.(Southern Plains Banksia) 1100 species of (Mountain Banksia) The limestone wall on the northern boundary is the only Proteaceae over 46 Correa alba var. pannosa “Western Pink Star” remnant of the Warrnambool saleyards. different genera. This Dryandra catoglypta garden bed was established Dryandra praemorsa (Urchin Banksia) Friends of Swan Reserve was formed in early 2010 to revitalise to display some of these Eremophila calorhabdos (Spiked Eremophila) the native garden plants. Eucalyptus preissiana (Prostrate form) Photo below left and re-establish Top: laurina, Hakea “Burrendong Beauty” Photo below right interest in its main- Middle: Banksia tricuspis, Hakea minyma tenance. The group Lower: cleared and Ixodia achillaeoides subsp. arenicola (Small Ixodia) replanted many old The Banksia name Kunzea baxteri red form (Scarlet Kunzea) garden beds and honours Sir Joseph Kunzea baxteri pink form established new Banks, botanist on James Wollemi nobilis (Wollemi Pine) ones. They also Cook's ship, worked closely with Endeavour and were first Warrnambool City collected by him at Bot- Council to establish any Bay during Cook's the playground, and a social gathering space to recognise the first expedition in 1770. site’s significant aboriginal heritage. Banksias occur only in Australia (75 species) Text & Photos by Kevin Sparrow and New Guinea (1 President, Friends of Swan Reserve Inc. species).