Estate Nature Guide Estate Nature Guide The Linnaeus Estate Named after Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) Contents i. ii. iii. iv. v. 8 INTRODUCTION & 10 GEOGRAPHY 20 ECOSYSTEMS AND FLORA 52 FAUNA 86 HISTORY OF HUMAN 106 APPENDICES & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OCCUPATION FURTHER READING 12 Geological History 22 The Flora and Ecological 54 Fauna Communities 88 Bundjalung Aboriginal 108 Appendix A Communities of Linnaeus Cultural Heritage Threatened Species Profiles 14 Ecological History 56 Threatened Animals 29 Littoral Rainforest 94 European Settlement Flora and Fauna 15 Broken Head Nature Reserve 60 Mammals 34 Brush Box Forest 110 Appendix B 16 The Heathland 62 Birds Vegetation Species 36 Swamp Forest 17 Cape Byron Marine Park 70 Reptiles 117 Appendix C 40 Wallum Heathland 72 Frogs Fauna Species 44 Kangaroo Grassland on 74 Butterflies 128 Appendix D Headlands Linnaeus Estate Trail Guide 78 Spiders 46 Freshwater Wetlands 130 Appendix E 80 Dragonflies and Damsel Flies 49 Coastal Dunes Sunbeams from cucumbers: 82 Beetles A gold-from-sea water scheme 84 Phasmids and Mantids 136 Appendix F Owen Lynn Oral History 85 Cicadas and Katydids 141 Further Reading 6 Contents Contents 7 Introduction Acknowledgements Welcome to the Linnaeus Estate Nature Guide, the companion text for The Linnaeus Estate Nature Guide and the companion Linnaeus Estate the Linnaeus Estate Trail Guide Trail Guide are the progeny of an enormous collaborative effort. The flora and fauna included in this Guide are a particular record of those species observed, or expected to The seed of the idea was sown by Phil McMaster. He recruited botanists and ecologists Robert Price and be observed, by botanists Robert Price and Lui Weber as they walked the Linnaeus Estate Trail, and those Lui Weber to assist with the germination after they had presented workshops for our first Students Under- additionally recorded by flora and fauna consultant Peter Parker and by Linnaeus members. standing Sustainable Strategies (SUSS) programme in 2007. Phil then guided the project to fruition. The Guide also includes information on the geological and ecological history, and the history of human The main body of the text was compiled by Robert Price and Lui Weber. Further contributions to the text occupation, that have all influenced the ecosystems that we see today on the Linnaeus Estate. were made by historian Dr Brett Stubbs, Ms Kate Adams from NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Josh Rosenthal from School for International Training, Mr Peter Parker from Peter Parker Environmental Consultants, and Dr Angela James. The oral history contribution was made by Mr Owen Lynn. The many contributions to the text were edited and compiled by Dr Angela James as a member of the Linnaeus Estate. The photographs included in this Guide were taken at Linnaeus by Robert Price and Lui Weber, and supple- mented from other databases. Rick Shearman was responsible for graphic design. If anyone else has been omitted, then please consider yourself gratefully acknowledged. The entire project has been funded by the members of Linnaeus Estate through the Linnaeus Education Steve Duchen Fund, and Broken Head Coastal Foundation Pty Ltd as developer of the Linnaeus Estate. On behalf of the Trustee 8 Introduction Acknowledgements 9 11 Geological History A view of the volcanic plug, Wollumbin (Mt Warning), from the rim of the eroded volcano. Linnaeus is situated toward the upper left hand side of the image. The 200 million year old metasediment hills meet the coastal sands at Linnaeus and Broken Head Nature Reserve. These here hills are as old as the trees forms the flats. Lennox Head is an old lava flow not completely eroded away. This landscape tells a story, a tale that stretches back 200 million years. At that time Australia was part of the super-continent Gondwana and a deep ocean trench occupied the space where Linnaeus is situated today. Meanwhile the sandstone and granite mountain ranges of New Clays, silts and sands transported by streams and rivers from nearby eroding plateaus deposited layers in South Wales were gradually eroding away, pulverised over the ocean trench. Over time these sediments consolidated into rocks that were buckled and uplifted, and in millions of years by the action of water and ultimately deposited turn eroded into a landscape of hills and valleys. into the ocean as sand. The prevailing southeast winds and waves pushed this sand up against the coast and gradually northward, Volcanic activity followed around 20 million years ago, covering this landscape with a super-volcano over forming the beaches and coastal dunes of northern NSW. 100km in diameter. The volcano was centred on present-day Wollumbin (Mt Warning), a one-hour drive northwest of the Estate. This mountain, the ancient plug of the volcano, can be seen from the beaches of Byron Bay. Over time, high rainfall formed streams and rivers that partially eroded away the overlying volcanic rocks, leaving behind a gigantic erosion crater known as a caldera (the Tweed Valley) with Mt Warning at its centre. Radiating outward from the rainforest-clad crater rim, like spokes in a wheel, countless fresh-flowing The Hoop Pine Araucaria cunningamii belongs to an ancient group streams cut deep gorges and broad valleys into the landscape. It was this erosion that revealed and shaped of conifers that includes the recently discovered Wollemi Pine. This the metasediments that form the hills of the Linnaeus Estate today and deposited much of the material that family of conifers goes back 200 million years in the fossil record, making it literally as old as the hills. 12 i. Geography i. Geography 13 Ecological History Broken Head Nature Reserve Lush rainforest at Broken Head. When you step into these forests you step back in time. Why not take a walk in the Nature Reserve and discover what this wonderful place has to offer? Echoes from the ‘Golden Age’ The Nature Reserve at Broken Head is one of the most exceptional Linnaeus is situated in a region that preserves both the climate and the lush vegetation of the ‘golden age’ areas of coastal rainforest on the north coast of New South Wales in Australia’s prehistory. When you step into these forests you step back in time. Australia began existence The rainforest and brushbox forest of this Reserve have comparable as an independent island continent when it detached from Antarctica about 45 million years ago during the scientific and conservation value to Iluka Nature Reserve which is Eocene period. included in the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage area. It was the final large fragment to separate from the southern super-continent Gondwana, which also originally included Africa, India, South America and New Zealand. Australia was a much wetter place back The Broken Head Reserve contains a high concentration of threatened then, with lush forests growing in what are now the deserts of the outback. Fossilised forests from around plant and animal species, and species at their known limits of dist- Lake Eyre in South Australia closely resemble the rainforest and brush-box forests found at Linnaeus today, ribution such as Coast Euodia Melicope vitiflora and Southern with many plants virtually identical to those preserved in the fossil record. Tapeinosperma Tapeinosperma repandulum. Over millions of years, as Australia dried out, these forests retreated to the lushest remaining locations. The It is remarkable to walk in this Reserve where lush palms and cycads Byron Bay district and its hinterland is one of these refuges, one of the largest areas remaining on the east grow only metres from surf crashing onto the beaches of secluded coast of Australia that is suitable for these ancient forests to survive. The Linnaeus Estate protects a small coves. The coastal fringe of the Reserve provides important shelter piece of this precious ‘golden age’ inheritance. and breeding sites for a number of rare and threatened sea birds, many of which migrate from the Northern Hemisphere each year. 14 i. Geography i. Geography 15 The Heathland Cape Byron Marine Park Banksia serrata is a species of woody shrub or tree of the genus Banksia in the Proteaceae family, featuring serrated, dark green leaves and large, yellow or Green Turtles Chelonia mydas are commonly seen around Julian Rocks. Photo: Corinna Byrne greyish-yellow flower spikes. Heathlands are a peaceful place to walk and enjoy colorful wildflowers Linnaeus is located adjacent to the Cape Byron Marine Park, a 22,000 hectare and nectar-feeding animals marine protected area with outstanding natural values, including sandy beaches, rocky shores and reefs hosting coral communities To the south of Linnaeus behind the dunes there is a significant area of coastal heath containing fire resis- tant plants such as the Banksia and other wild flowers that burst into colourful display during summer, late The Park is home to dolphins, turtles and seabirds along with diverse tropical and temperate fish and winter and spring. Forests of scribbly gum and paperbarks, and large stands of grass trees also occur in this marine plants. Some threatened animals recorded here include the Little Tern, the Grey Nurse Shark and area. The plants of these ecosystems attract large numbers of nectar-eating insects, birds and mammals. the Loggerhead Turtle. Migrating whales, mainly Humpbacks, pass through the Marine Park each year. Heathlands are a peaceful place to walk and enjoy colorful wildflowers and nectar-feeding animals, including insects, the white-cheeked and Zoning Map of the Marine Park (overleaf) other honeyeaters by day, and rare blossom bats at night. The ideal time to visit is early morning or late afternoon when the sun is less Areas in pink, including Broken Head just north of Linnaeus, are harsh and the honeyeaters are most active. Springtime is the most sanctuary zones where fishing activities are prohibited.