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A large, spreading tree of up to 20 metres that is indigenous to the Kinglake area and suitable for most conditions. Fast growing with a life span of 30 - 50 years, it flowers from July to November and attracts a variety of animals & insects. Note that Silver Wattles have a strong spreading root system and should not be planted near septic or sewer connections. Images (click to expand) Image credits: Image 1 - John Stewart KLG | Image 2 - Chris Cobern KLG | Image 3 - Roger Cook KLG Information Features Large, spreading tree up to 20 metres Indigenous to Kinglake area Fast growing with a life span of 30 – 50 years Suitable for most conditions Flowers July – November Silvery green/grey foliage Habitat Attracts a variety of animals. Flowers: nectar and pollen is food for insects, birds and sugar gliders. Seeds: food for seed-eating birds (parrots, pigeons). Leaves: eaten by caterpillars and insects (stick insects, some beetles) Gum: high energy food for possums Galls provide food for rosellas and cockatoos. Insects pupate under the bark –a favourite food for black cockatoos and gang gangs. Habitat for small birds to perch and nest (silvereyes) Uses Aboriginal use: Stone axe handles with the gum used to fasten head to handle. Also boomerangs. Gum was dissolved in water with nectar to make sweet drink Other uses: Adds nitrogen to the soil that benefits other plants, soil bacteria and fungi (mycorrhizal network). Root system helps with soil stabilization. Fast burning fuel but poor compared to other hardwoods. The gum is soluble in water and was reputedly dissolved in boiling milk and used for dysentery and diarrhea by European settlers. Propagation Regenerates naturally from seed after a disturbance such as fire. Seed germinates easily after treating with boiling water and soaking overnight. Notes Caution: Silver Wattles have a strong spreading root system and should not be planted near septic or sewer connections Downloadable files:

A light, open small shrub with clover like foliage on hairy brown/red stems. Particularly found in forest, rare and endangered in Victoria, but, abundant in some Kinglake locations. A great garden plant and habitat for indigenous wildlife. Not to be confused with weedy Broom which also has yellow flowers - see below for how to distinguish the two. Images (click to expand) Image credits: Image 1 - John Stewart KLG | Image 2 - John Stewart KLG Information Features Light open small shrub 1-3m with clover like foliage on hairy brown/red stems. Particularly found in forest and once a subspecies of Golden Tip/Clover Tree (Goodia lotifolia), but now its own species. So, it shares many characteristics but has hairier and softer stems and smaller flowers. Rare and endangered in Victoria, but, abundant in some Kinglake locations e.g. Wombelano Falls – Kinglake National Park and the Bollygum Park Playground & Reserve. September to November bright yellow flowers often with red/brown splotch in showy loose racemes. Pods flat, oblong 25mm or longer. Habitat Attracts butterflies and insect & seed eating birds. Food source for bees and other pollinators. Uses Garden plant and habitat for indigenous wildlife. Soil improvement - adds beneficial nitrogen to the soil. Hedge or screen. Propagation From scarified seed, stem, suckering, or root cuttings. Notes Silky Golden Tip is sometimes confused with weedy Broom species Montpellier Broom (Genista monspessulana), which is a weed and should be removed. How to tell the difference: Weedy Broom has a ridged, usually woodier, stem. They also have a different arrangement of the trifoliate leaf (leaf divided into three leaflets). On Golden Tips the three leaflets are of equal size, whereas on Montpellier Broom the middle leaf is usually larger. Golden Tips have pea shaped flowers which are yellow with a red tinge to their base, not just yellow like weedy Broom. The newer stems and branches of Golden Tips are red to red/brown, not green like weedy Broom. This is weedy Montpellier Broom: This is Silky Golden Tip: Downloadable files:

A fast-growing small to large attractive tree which thrives in the Kinglake district, living to over 50 years. Commonly found where rainfall exceeds 600mm as it likes deep/moist well drained soils. Images (click to expand) Image credits: Image 1 - Roger Cook KLG | Image 2 - Roger Cook KLG | Image 3 - Roger Cook KLG Information Features Fast growing small to large attractive tree from 5m to over 30 metres high and 4m to 15 metres wide which thrives in the Kinglake district, living to over 50 years. Commonly found where rainfall exceeds 600mm (such as the Kinglake district with its average 1200mm per year) as it likes deep/moist well drained soils. Foliage usually dark green, bark dark grey, hard and fissured. Flowers late winter to early spring (August-October) with 2-8 pale creamy heads on almost hairless stalks. Pale brown seedpods becoming twisted with a doubled red supporting attachment (funicle) inside surrounding the seed. Habitat Attracts a variety of animals. Flowers: nectar and pollen food for insects and birds. Seeds: including the funicle consumed by birds and insects (Cockatoos, Rosellas, King Parrots). Leaves: food for Ringtail Possums and even Koalas when Eucalypts unavailable. Gum: Sugar Gliders wound the trunk to encourage sap. Shelter: birds, insects, spiders in the foliage and bark. Uses Aboriginal use: Indigenous name: Burn-na-look. Inner bark fibre used for string, fishing lines, also provided weapons (woomeras, shields and throwing sticks), and medicine (bark infusion for rheumatic joints). Leaves used to poison water to catch fish. Other uses: Adds beneficial nitrogen to the soil. The mature heartwood has a similarity to Mahogany/Teak and has been used in cabinetwork, veneers, fine furniture and has been considered the “Rolls Royce” of wood for spinning wheels. Has been used for billiard tables, gun stocks, boat building, railway carriages, etc. Ideal for ornament, shade, screen or windbreak/shelterbelt in high rainfall zones. Excellent fuel (but perhaps wasted as such). Propagation Regenerates naturally from seed particularly after fire disturbance. Hard seed germinates after nicking or treating with boiling water and soaking overnight. Notes Good fire-retardant tree for fire prone areas as it does not contain flammable oils like Eucalypts. What looks like leaves are actually flattened phyllodes or stems. Bipinnate juvenile leaves sometimes persist on younger plants. Tends to sucker if roots damaged. Downloadable files:

Spring Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and November is Buath Gurru (Grass Flowering season). Warm and rainy as days grow longer and the landscape moves into deep growth and renewal. Kangaroo Grass flowers and goes to seed, and Coranderrk (Victorian Christmas Bush) blooms. Coming up Detection Dog one day workshop on Saturday 14th November is hosted by the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network and King Parrot Pest Animal Cooperative. It will give you the foundations to understand what conservation detection dogs do, what they are used for, what makes a dog suitable for scent work, how to introduce odours and build early search behaviour, common pitfalls, demonstrations with a working detection dog, and simple exercises to try at home. More details below. iNaturalist Bioblitz 27th to 30th November featuring Bat Survey, Mason Falls Night Spotlighting for Greater Gliders, Bird Watching & Identification. Activities just gone or continuing The very successful Nest Box Building Workshop in September with 54 nest boxes being built by the 28 participants is being followed up by installations in fire affected areas such as Gobur (see separate article in MM by project initiator/organiser Kathryn). Very interesting day in October at the Wildflower Walk at Clarks Rd, Yea organised by Yea River Landcare Group with assistance from yours truly and the expert Ron Litjens. Great displays of flowering Orchids, Sundews, Buttercups etc (see photos). Also, UGLN through Fencers Without Boundaries is still actively seeking volunteers and donations to assist landowners impacted by the 2026 Longwood Fires in the Murrindindi and surrounding shires and is calling out for skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist. For more information contact Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email ugln.projects@ugln.net From left: Twining Fringe Lily; Dwarf Greenhood Orchid; Golden Moth Orchid Get our free booklet “Caring for Your Patch” covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, or download here. Membership It is time to consider renewing your membership or joining Landcare. Kinglake Landcare Group is a community group operating as an auspice group under the Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House (KRNH). Membership is $11 annually and this helps with the support we get from the house and public liability insurance. Current members have been sent renewal details. New members please contact Secretary Tim Connell 0408 599 485 or visit our membership page for details or to be added to our free “friends” mailing list for notification of events. Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 16th November upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. A late spring welcome to all. Next events: Detection Dog Workshop Saturday 14th November 10-3pm at Strath Creek Hall, 10 Ferguson St, Strath Creek. Free light lunch provided. Contact Chris Cobern on 0413855490 or ugln.projects@ugln.net KLG/Bendigo Bank Bird Box Installation Day Monday 23rd November location tbc. Contact kathryndickie2@gmail.com iNaturalist Bioblitz 27-30 November. Contact kathryndickie2@gmail.com for details.

Spring Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and September/October is Poorneet (or Tadpole) season when the weather warms up while rain continues. Myrnong (Yam daisies) flower and tadpoles develop on wetlands. Coming up The 54 Bird Nest Boxes built at our successful workshop at KRNH in September are to be installed in the Longwood fire affected areas (more details elsewhere in this MM). Further activities will be advised by email or on our website. Next events: KLG/Bendigo Bank Bird Box Installation Day TBA kathryndickie2@gmail.com Activities just gone or continuing The Nest Box Building Workshop in September was very successful with 54 nest boxes being built by the 28 participants and particular thanks to project initiator/organiser Kathryn and wood worker in chief Colin (see photos). Three Kinglake schools participated in the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network Kids Teaching Kids Conference at Yea Wetlands in September. The program brings together schools from across the shire to participate in environmental activities and share the projects they have been working on throughout the year. King Parrot Pest Animal Cooperative (KPPAC) fauna monitoring project of UGLN is to reduce the impact of foxes and feral cats on biodiversity and stock/agriculture assets in the King Parrot Creek catchment. The project has been funded by the Victorian State Governments Partnerships against Pests program. Next planned workshop is how to train your dog in detection of, for example, pest animals. Also, UGLN through Fencers Without Boundaries is still actively seeking volunteers and donations to assist landowners impacted by the 2026 Longwood Fires in the Murrindindi and surrounding shires and is calling out for skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist. For more information contact Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email ugln.projects@ugln.net On the fire theme, UGLN is currently working with MSC and others to complete an updated post fire landscape restoration booklet. Get our free booklet “Caring for Your Patch” covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, or online from our website kinglakelandcare.org. Membership New members can contact Landcare through our website kinglakelandcare.org for membership details or to be added to our free “friends” mailing list for notification of events. Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 19th October upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. A spring welcome to all.

Kinglake Landcare and Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House invite you to join us for a community day building bird boxes for fire‑affected areas. All materials have been generously sponsored by Community Bank Hurstbridge, and a light lunch will be provided. If you have a power drill, please bring it along to help with assembly. Everyone is welcome — families, volunteers, neighbours, and anyone who wants to support local wildlife and recovery efforts. Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House 5th September 2026 @10.30am to 12.30pm Proudly Supported by Community Bank Hurstbridge RSVP is essential: Kinglake Landcare kathryndickie2@gmail.com timfconnell@gmail.com

A highly successful Bird Box Building Day was held on Saturday 5th September 2026 at the Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House, bringing together 28 participants from Kinglake Landcare, Cathedral Landcare, Flowerdale Landcare, Kinglake Mens Shed and Melbourne Polytechnic. The group built 54 high‑quality nest boxes designed for Brush‑tailed Phascogales, Boobook Owls and Ringtail Possums. These species rely on large tree hollows, many of which were destroyed in the Longwood fire, leaving wildlife without essential shelter and breeding sites. Very little support has been dedicated to restoring environmental habitat in Murrindindi Shire since the bushfire, as current recovery funding has not matched the scale of environmental impact. This is why we have been fortunate to secure a grant from Bendigo Bank to help make this project possible. The boxes will soon be installed in the burnt‑out areas around Yarck by Chris Coburn from the Upper Goulburn Landcare Network and his team, who are still working hard on post‑fire recovery fencing through the volunteer group, “Fencers Without Boundaries.” These nest boxes will provide much‑needed replacement habitat while the forest recovers, and everyone involved is looking forward to seeing which animals choose to make them their home. The day had a strong community spirit, with volunteers working side‑by‑side, sharing skills and enjoying lunch together. It was a great example of collaboration between local groups, students and volunteers. A special thanks goes to Bendigo Bank for their generous support, Colin Parton for cutting and preparing the boxes ready to assemble on the day and Michelle Stewart for her talented artwork.

Spring Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and September/October is Poorneet (or Tadpole) season when the weather warms up while rain continues. Myrnong (Yam daisies) flower and tadpoles develop on wetlands. Coming up All welcome to our Bird Box Building Workshop at KRNH in September (details below). Your assistance will help wildlife recovery in the Longwood fire affected areas. Also, all welcome to our Kinglake Landcare Group (KLG) monthly meetings resuming this month after a winter break. Further activities will be advised by email or on our website. Next events: UGLN Kids Teaching Kids Conference, Yea Wetlands, 10.15am-2pm Tuesday 1st September. KLG Community Bird Box Building Day at KLG 10-30am-12.30pm Saturday 5 September. RSVP kathryndickie2@gmail.com Activities just gone or continuing KLG, Upper Goulburn Landcare Network (UGLN), and Murrindindi Shire Council (MSC) celebrated National Tree Day July plantings with the three Kinglake plus Toolangi primary schools planting approximately 75 plants at each. An additional 300 planted by KLG with assistance from Kinglake Rotary to add to the Kinglake Middle Primary School planting alongside the pathway between the school and Kinglake Community Centre which we had recently prepared by clearing the dense woody weed Flax-leaf Broom. King Parrot Pest Animal Cooperative (KPPAC) fauna monitoring is a project of UGLN is to reduce the impact of foxes and feral cats on biodiversity and stock/agriculture assets in the King Parrot Creek catchment. KPPAC reports that fox scats recently studied from around Flowerdale reveal foxes diet of Platypus, Echidna, Wallaby, Ringtail possum, insects, blackberry, and plum. Activity monitoring is carried out annually on participating KPPAC properties using 36 remote sensor cameras with photos on our YouTube channel recorded in 2025: https://youtu.be/-bl6OeWAFyo?si=1UdeAHPadmymVVbV The project has been funded by the Victorian State Governments Partnerships against Pests program. Also, UGLN through Fencers Without Boundaries is still actively seeking volunteers and donations to assist landowners impacted by the 2026 Longwood Fires in the Murrindindi and surrounding shires and is calling out for skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist. For more information contact Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email ugln.projects@ugln.net Disappointingly the annual KNP Lyrebird Survey was cancelled at last minute due to bad weather conditions. But, Lyrebirds were still displaying and spreading their mimicry and song across the forest as I checked regularly during July/ August. Get our free booklet “Caring for Your Patch” covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, or online from our website kinglakelandcare.org. Membership New members can contact Landcare through our website kinglakelandcare.org for membership details or to be added to our free “friends” mailing list for notification of events. Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 21st September upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. A spring welcome to all.

Winter Kinglake district is the traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation and August is Guling or Orchid season when the cold weather eases and wattle and orchids bloom. Coming up All welcome to our Kinglake Landcare Group (KLG) National Tree Planting nr Kinglake Community Centre on 2nd August (see event details below). Further activities will be advised by email or on our website. Next events: NTD planting 10.30am Sun 2nd Aug, Kinglake Community Centre, Extons Rd, BBQ following. KNP Lyrebird Survey 8-9 August. Contact Kinglake Ranger James on 0400153667 if interested. UGLN Kids Teaching Kids Conference, Yea Wetlands, 10.15am-2pm Tuesday 1st September. Activities just gone or continuing KLG, Upper Goulburn Landcare Network (UGLN), and Murrindindi Shire Council (MSC) are continuing to celebrate National Tree Day into August following the July plantings with the Toolangi and the three Kinglake primary schools (more next MM). Interesting webinar “Love Your Pollinators” was presented by Zoos Victoria online and at Kinglake Library in July (see photo) featuring Bogong Moths. Free plants for pollinators distributed. More details next MM. King Parrot Pest Animal Cooperative (KPPAC) fauna monitoring is a project of UGLN. The objective of the project is to reduce the impact of foxes and feral cats on biodiversity and stock/agriculture assets in the King Parrot Creek catchment. Monitoring is carried out annually on participating KPPAC properties using 36 remote sensor cameras. Photos attached are from our YouTube channel recorded in 2025 https://youtu.be/-bl6OeWAFyo?si=1UdeAHPadmymVVbV The project has been funded by the Victorian State Governments Partnerships against Pests program. Also, UGLN through Fencers Without Boundaries is still actively seeking volunteers and donations to assist landowners impacted by the 2026 Longwood Fires in the Murrindindi and surrounding shires and is calling out for skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist. For more information contact Chris Cobern on 0413 855 490 or by email ugln.projects@ugln.net On the fire theme, UGLN is currently working with others to provide assistance with updated post fire landscape restoration information. Get our free booklet “Caring for Your Patch” covering backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more, is available from Kinglake Library, KRNH, Kinglake Heritage Centre, local garden suppliers, Landcare events, some local shops and servos, or online from our website kinglakelandcare.org. Membership New members can contact Landcare through our website kinglakelandcare.org for membership details or to be added to our free “friends” mailing list for notification of events. Next meeting: 7.30pm Monday 21st September upstairs at Kinglake Memorial Reserve Hall. A spring welcome to all after the winter break.

In 2023, members of the Kinglake Landcare Group produced a booklet ‘Caring for Your Patch in the Kinglake Ranges’ to assist residents to connect with the local natural environment and learn how to protect and enhance their 'patch’. The publication is an adaptation and modification of an earlier booklet ‘Sustainable Gardening in the Kinglake Ranges’, created and published by Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA) and Kinglake Landcare Group (KLG) in 2012. In recognition of the change in residents and needs since that first publication, ‘Caring for Your Patch’ seeks to inspire, educate and appeal to young and old. Beautifully designed, the booklet features front cover artwork and wildlife characters illustrated by local Kinglake artist, Michelle Bolmat. Its contents include backyard garden design, food growing, plant selection, weed and pest animal management and more. Available for free download here and at Landcare events and various locations across the Kinglake Ranges, with thanks to the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) for generously providing grant funding for this project.

In 2008, a pipeline development near Kinglake exposed a patch of rare plants, including Pomaderris vacciniifolia (Round-leaf Pomaderris), thought to be some of the last estimated 150 plants of that species left in the world. The subsequent furore over the potential destruction of this rare plant led to it eventually becoming listed as Critically Endangered, the highest national category of risk of extinction. Fire plays an important role in the evolution of many Australian plant species and the plants of the Kinglake Ranges have developed the ability to regenerate after a fire. The Black Saturday bushfires in 2009 stimulated germination of seeds lying dormant in the soil and gave the Round-leaf Pomaderris a boost in numbers. The Kinglake Landcare Group have since worked with the Murrindindi Shire Council and Parks Victoria to ensure the survival of the plant by seed collecting, propagating, planting, and distributing the plant around the district. We have planted and distributed over 1500 plants over the past 10 years. Regular audits and maintenance of previous plantings in public reserves & roadsides are also carried out. We now estimate that numbers in our district alone are in the thousands. In a sheltered forest environment, it is a slender shrub growing to a height of 3 metres. In an open position Round-leaf Pomaderris will grow up to 4 metres tall and 2 metres wide. The shrub is covered with creamy white flowers in late spring. The seeds of Round-leaf Pomaderris attract King Parrots and Crimson Rosellas in early summer.

Boxes for Birds is a Kinglake community nest box project, in partnership with Birdlife Australia. In late 2024 and early 2025, we installed 85 nestboxes on members' properties and public reserves across the Kinglake Ranges. The majority of the nestboxes will be purchased from LaTrobe University, funded by the Victorian State Government through the Victorian Landcare Program. Further boxes were constructed at a nestbox construction workshop, funded by our FRRR Rural Skills grant. Five boxes of varying sizes were installed on each property to accommodate different size birds including Small bird/Treecreeper size, Pardalote size, Small/medium parrot, Duck or Kookaburra and Owl size boxes. Property owners monitor their nest boxes twice yearly and record the birds or other animals that are using them (or not). We have purchased a new nest box inspection camera for that purpose (funded through the grant) and remote motion cameras that can also be used.