Teesdale Grassy Woodlands Walk
Featuring abundant native flora and fauna, explore the Teesdale Grassy Woodlands on this 1.8km walk.
Enjoy a walk full of surprises and discovery with a hint of adventure. Head out back behind the oval and follow the walking track through 25 ha of natural bushland. If you're quiet you will get up close to kangaroos and hear the song of the local birds.
Walking Tracks
Walking clockwise around the Grassy Woodland Reserve
Walk 1. Boundary Track, Red Gum Track. A 15 minute, 1 km easy walk with a short steep descent and two gentle ascents.
Walk 2. Boundary Track, She-oak Track. A 20 minute, 1.5km easy walk with a gentle descent and two gentle ascents.
Walk 3. Boundary Track. A 25 minute, 1.8km easy walk around the perimeter of the reserve with one steep short descent and a gentle ascent.
Geology
Two million years ago a lava flow dammed Native Hut Creek creating a large inland lake near Teesdale. You are presently standing on an ancient sand dune that formed on the lake's edge. Running water and wind have combined to sculpt these sand deposits into the undulating landscape that you see in the Reserve today.
History
In 1851 the first District Surveyor described this area as "Thickly wooded principally of She oak". Despite all the original trees being cleared by the first settlers for firewood and building materials the Drooping She-oaks have returned.
To the first settlers it was a "Common" where they grazed their milking cows, gathered mushrooms and held community picnics. In the early 1970's the Don Wallace Recreation Reserve was built at the southern end of the Common after regular floods in the 1960's washed away part of Teesdale's oval at Turtle Bend on Native Hut Creek.
Wildflowers
Wild flowers are abundant In the Reserve and are best seen from September to November. Think of your favourite colour and you're sure to find it. You may see yellow flowers (orchids, Curly Rice-flower, Goodenia, Scaly-buttons, Everlastings), white flowers (Common Rice-flower, Early Nancy, Milkmaids), cream flowers Creamy Candles, Feather-heads), pink-blue (Trigger Plant, Sun Orchid, Chocolate Lily, Flax lily, Blue Devil) and pink-red (Running Postman, Magenta storks-bill, Pink Bindweed).
Grasslands have many types of native grasses and wild flowers. In this grassland the most common grass is Kangaroo Grass which grows through the summer giving the reserve a green tinge even in hot dry summers. Across the Reserve there are also Spear grasses, Wallaby grasses. Plume Grass, Weeping Grass and two varieties of tussock grasses. There is less than 1% of the original native grasslands left in Victoria so these remnants are very rare and precious.
Beginning at the trailhead sign located in Don Wallace Reserve near the tennis courts, public toilets and carparking. Follow the well-marked loop trail which showcases a range of unique flora, fauna and a deep Aboriginal history.
Access for Dogs:
Dogs are permitted on leash.
Review:
The reserve has a number of tracks which are generally a bit sandy and wide and suitable for both walking and cycling. The tracks are well labelled.
Beside the tracks are a number of information signs.
We saw some kangaroos in one section of the reserve.
Photos:
Location
1175 Shelford-Bannockburn Road, Teesdale 3328 Map
