Bribie Island Bicentennial Bush Walks

Click for the Bushwalk map

The preservation of this area, set aside for Botanic purposes began in conjunction with the planning of the Shire's major Bicentennial project - a Community Arts Centre. It was agreed the Centre should be set in bush land, and a cultural site was excised from the Botanic area, and it provides a perfect backdrop for the creative arts.

After the tracks were roughly laid out by volunteers, a Government grant enabled us to form a hard surface track to the waterhole, making access for wheelchairs.

Immediately inside the gateway, members of the Bribie Island Garden Club have worked hard after the devastating bush fires to re-vegetate and area with a variety of smaller plants. Prior to this, they had established a walk for the visually impaired to enjoy the perfume and tactile quality of plants, but the fires destroyed this section.

Along the Banksia track from the waterhole some excellent species of grass trees are flourishing. In the background, the fast becoming-rare swamp Melaleuca can be seen, with dazzling white trunks rising from the water. The Banksia track of course also displays some excellent species of its namesake.

Along the outside of the Melaleuca Walk are a variety of Wallum flowers - the mauve Vanilla Lily, showy Parrot Pea Dillwynia, Wallum Wedge Pea, and patches of Wallum Heath, Pink Boronia and Callistemon.

The list of species shown on the map overleaf is limited, but at the Arts Centre there is a book by Dr. lan McRae listing every plant on Bribie Island with colour photos. There is also a list of the 87 bird species found in the gardens area during a special study in 1990-1992. A book is also on sale on Bribie's birdlife.

Three tracks of varying length lead through the Livistona Palm Grove. This is a very wet spot, enjoyed by the palms. There are also Corkwood trees in the area and some fair sized Eucalyptus. The sandy ridge running above this area is one of the highest spots on our very flat island. Blueberry Ash also are seen in this area, together with Bungwall, a favourite food fern of the early Aborigines. In parts of the gardens will see Dodder Vine, which takes over even large plants and eventually smothers them.

The native species here do not transplant well, some being very deeply rooted to combat hot dry sandy conditions. So enjoy them where they choose to grow and if you look carefully you will find there are many more plants like Sundew and nodding Greenhoods hiding from sight. Grass-like plants include the Mat Rush, Feather Plant and Twist Rush.

We value this area close by the Arts Centre. Although the flowering species may not be as vivid as some they are special to us and we enjoy them. The bushland in such a sandy site has a hard life - irregular rain, forest fires, and hot sun, yet it survives and flourishes in these conditions as it has learnt to do over the ages.

Click for the Bushwalk map