Belmont Bush Reserve (Montmorency)

Belmont Bush Reserve is a 1.02 hectare reserve which has many important flora and fauna species. It is one of a number of isolated reserves within Montmorency that form a habitat corridor. There are mown areas by the entrance at Belmont Crescent and along the reserve's top ridge.

Activities in the park include wildlife observation.

History

Belmont Reserve was once part of the Quinn Estate, and was later divided between the Guymers (Guymer Court), Macdonalds and an unknown family.

According to the Metropolitan Planning Scheme (1954), 2.08 acres of the estate was to be reserved as open space. Eltham Shire Council reviewed its open space requirements for the estate in 1979, a time when much of the land was owned by the council. It considered 2.08 acres too large for open space from a planning and financial perspective.

A subdivision was drawn up, with a request to re-zone 17 allotments from open space to residential. A small triangular area became Belmont Reserve.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation is valley grassy forest and yellow box, and is listed as regionally threatened. It lies within the highlands-southern fall bioregion.

The reserve has 2 conservation areas where mowing is restricted and the flora is allowed to grow. There are many significant species, including greenhood orchids and other rare and threatened species.