VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal Reserve2.8 History of Bidjigal Reserve – a chronologyThe history of Bidjigal Reserve has been well-documented for many centuries, from rock paintingsand middens dating back to 10,150 bp; to modern day ecological surveys and managementpractices. This information has been provided in this VMP to highlight the processes which haveshaped the modern-day landscape of Bidjigal Reserve.A brief summary of the Reserve history has been sourced from “The bushland of Bidjigal Reserve andadjoining reserves” (BHSC 2004).“The bushland of Bidjigal Reserve and adjoining reserves”40,000 years before present: Aboriginal people used the resources of the district to sustain ahunter-gatherer lifestyle.1790s Europeans arrive: Aboriginal populations in the Region are decimated by diseases likesmallpox; their traditional way of like, including hunting and burning practices, changesforever. The new arrivals begin to affect local bushland in a new and dramatic way.1804: 3,400 acres set aside by Governor King as the Baulkham Hills Common: this areaincluding the present- day Bidjigal Reserve1818: The Common is revoked and much of the land within the Shire is deeded to privateindividuals as land grants, resulting in the clearing of the Blue Gum and Turpentine-IronbarkForests and establishment of farms.1820 – 1950s: Reserve’s natural resources are exploited by local landowners. Local industriesincluded timber getting, quarrying (e.g. Quarries at the end of Excelsior Avenue), and a steamflour mill is built at the corner of Windsor & North Rocks Road. Non-native flora and faunaarrive in the Baulkham Hills district, and local waterways are gradually polluted. Decline innative fauna species becomes evident.1955: Cumberland Native Forest Extension ‘3’ is declared, covering most of the parkland westof Bellbird Creek: becomes Darling Mills State Forest in 1984.1958: Excelsior Park (later Reserve) created when 160 hectares of Crown Land transferred toBaulkham Hills Shire Council and zoned for recreation.1965-74: Urban era begins with subdivision of land adjoining the Reserve for residentialdevelopment.Early 1970s: Direct and indirect impact of sports fields and residential subdivisions created inthe 1960s now evident; with high sediment loads in creeks and increasing weed invasion dueto clearing on Reserve boundaries and sewer main construction through the bushland, thelatter resulting in considerable damage to the native vegetation.UBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd 21