Western Petalurid
Dragonfly
(Petaleura hesperia)
The Petalurid dragonfl y is the largest
species of dragonfl y in Western
Australia, having a wingspan of 10cm
and a bright red body. The species
has been recorded at 10 sites across
Perth, one of which is Bull Creek.
It was last recorded in 1995, and
several studies since then have not
recorded it at this location. It has
been suggested that the species
has declined or is extinct due to the
presence of the introduced Blackberry
vine (Rubus sp.) at this location. The
vine creates an obstacle to both adult
dragonfl ies emerging from burrows
and to females attempting to lay eggs
on rotting vegetation at ground level.
The vine has sharp spines that can
damage wings on fl ying insects.
The dragonfl y has been adopted as
the logo for the Bull Creek Wetlands.
The City of Melville in association
with Murdoch University will continue
to monitor dragonfl y presence in the
wetland.
Location
The Bull Creek Wetland consists
of a a chain of of several dampland
and wetland reserves linked by
the Bull Creek drain running from
Brockman Avenue in Leeming to
the inlet in Bull Creek at Leach
Highway. The creek itself passes
through Bull Creek Reserve, Reg
Bourke Reserve, Richard Lewis
Reserve and what is know as
Bateman (or Yagan) Reserve
where it joins the saline Canning
River. (see map for details).
Bull Creek Drv
Bateman
Reserve
Bull Creek Wetlands water is coloured brown
due to tannins found in the leaf litter
sa
For more information
If you would like to f ind out
more about Bull Creek or any other wetland
in the City of Melville, please contact the
City of Melville Environmental Off icer on
9364 0283 or visit www.melvillecity.com.au.
Richard Lewis
Reserve
Reg Burke
Reserve
Leach Hwy
All Saints SHS
Bull Creek
Wetland
Enjoy a walk around the
wetland and learn about
the flora and fauna
Rossmoyne SHS
Small Reserve
Nearby Karel Ave
Bull Creek
Vegetation
The fl ora at Bull Creek Wetland varies
from dry Banksia woodlands with Firewood
Banksia (Banksia menziesii), Grasstrees
(Xyanthorrhea preissi), Jarrah (Eucalyptus
marginata), and Marri (Corymbia calophylla)
to damplands of Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus
rudis) and stands of Freshwater Paperback
(Melaleuca raphiophylla) along the creeklines
of these reserves.
Paperbark found in Bull Creek Wetlands
The bushland in Bull Creek has been
damaged by frequent fi res and the spread
of invasive weeds, including Bracken
Fern (Pteridium esculentum), Blackberry
(Rubus fructicosa) and Sydney Golden
Wattle (Acacia longifolia).
In some areas, the weeds are so
successful that the creek banks are
almost impenetrable.
The City of Melville has been working with
All Saints College and the Rossmoyne
Bush Rangers for several years to
eradicate weeds from parts of the Bull
Creek Wetlands.
History of
Bull Creek
Nyoongar People
Prior to European settlement, the Beeliar
Aboriginal people used the Bull Creek Wetland
as a source of food and fresh water in summer.
There is evidence to suggest that this area
has been used by Aboriginal groups for the
past 38,000 years.
Fauna
Post Settlement History
The Bull Creek Wetland was owned by a
succession of early pioneers, including Henry
Bull and Thomas Middleton, who cleared much
of the land for farming. The inlet now found
adjacent to Leach Highway and Spinaway
Crescent was the site of a jetty built by Bull
and John Adams as part of a river port from
the settlement at the Canning River.
Suburban development occurred in the area
in the 1960s and 1970s. The reserves now
form part of the wetland chain known as the
Bull Creek Wetland and are named after
Councilors and pioneers in the area - Richard
Lewis, a long serving Melville Councilor; Reg
Bourke a member of the Melville Roads Board;
and the settler Henry Bull.
The Bull Creek Wetland has a rich assortment of local native animals, including the Splendid Wren
(Malurus splendens) and the Pacifi c Black Duck (Anas superciliosa).
Amphibians are common and include the tiny Clicking Frog (Crinia glauertii), the larger Banjo Frog
(Limnodynastes dorsalis) and Motorbike Frog (Littoria mooreii).
Snakes and lizards, like the common Bobtail (Tiliqua rugosa), thrive in the cool damp bushland.
The wetland is home to the Southern Brown Bandicoot – Quenda (Isodon obesulus), and may
house small mammals such as Rakali – the native water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster).
Change language