History of the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve

SITEMAP

Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve
*Intro to  BFFR          *Location Maps         
*History of BFFR *Flora
*Fauna
*Geology and Landscape
*Habitats 
*Rare and Threatened Species                *Threats to the BFFR

Friends of Cardinia Creek Sanctuary         

Managing the Beaconsfield Flora and Fauna Reserve 

Resources For Teachers 

GUESTBOOK      

LINKS

Aboriginal History           European History        Creation of BFFR 
       
                                                                                                       Aboriginal History                                                                                                            The name 'Cardinia' comes from the aboriginal word 'Kar-din-yar', which means 'looking to the rising sun'. The Bunurong tribe called the Cardinia Creek area home. Areas along the creek were popular camping sites, such as Akoonah Park   (adjoining BFFR - 'Akoonah' is aboriginal for 'running waters').  The creek, swamps and surrounding bush provided abundant food and water. Many species that are found in the reserve today were used by the aborigines for food and medicine, such as the Swamp Wallaby, possums, plant roots, bracken, and fish and eels from the creek. The neighbouring Wurundjeri tribe from the northern foothills also travelled along the creek. Both tribes used it as a path into the Kooweerup Swamp (which once covered the Kooweerup and surrounding districts) and Westernport Bay. Marriage and trade occurred between the tribes.

In 1989, archaeologist Laurajane Smith studied aboriginal heritage sites in the Berwick-Pakenham growth corridor. She found a total of 62 sites in the study, and 23 of these sites occurred along the Cardinia Creek. One of the sites of significance is found along the creek opposite BFFR, as shown in this photograph (left). This is called a scar tree, as it bears the scars of aboriginal use. The oval-shaped holes in the bark are called 'toe holds' and helped people to climb the tree to reach a hollow higher up, probably in search of possums, birds or eggs for food. Other nearby findings during the study included an artefact scatter, made up of small stone relics which were shaped for tools such as axe heads. 

European Settlement                                                                                                     Europeans first settled in the Beaconsfield district in 1837. Captain Robert Gardiner is believed to have established the first local cattle run on the western side of the creek, near what is now Akoonah Park. Later the Mt. Misery run was established east of the creek. The Beaconsfield area was quickly settled and became a rich farming area. It was also a popular stop-over for travellers into Gippsland. The present area of Akoonah Park was home to a number of settler's huts over time. These people collected fresh, clear water from the creek. Ferns and wildflowers were abundant. It was common to see native cats (quolls), goannas and tiger snakes.  Timber production was a booming local industry as land was cleared for farming. The area that now makes up the BFFR remained as remnant bushland. 

Picnic at Cardinia Creek opposite BFFR, 1900           Bridge crossing Cardinia Creek, Princes         Notice the diving board into the swimming hole.       Hwy (Then Gippsland Road - No date)   

Creation of BFFR                                                                                                            According to files from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the first record of the BFFR is in 1930. The Shire of Berwick (which covered the Berwick-Pakenham district until the early 1970's) gave control of the land to the Crown (government) after they were prohibited from clearing the land for crops. Between 1933 and 1953, the area was grazed by pigs, and sand was extracted from areas near Inglis Road in the late 1930's. The sand pits were used as a rubbish tip for some years, and evidence of these activities can still be seen today. In 1945, the southern end of the BFFR was declared a reserve in 1945, with the northern section added in 1953. It was then known as 'Cardinia Park'. As early as 1944, the reserve was significant as habitat for koalas and the now critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater.

The Land Conservation Council (LCC) recommended management actions for natural environments in Victoria in a number of reports. In 1978, they recommended that the BFFR become a permanent bushland reserve. In 1994, the LCC declared the area a Nature Conservation Reserve because of its swampy riparian forest and swamp scrub vegetation, which have been cleared throughout much of Victoria. They recommended that the area be protected to conserve indigenous plants and animals, provide for educational and scientific study and passive recreation (nature appreciation, picnicking) by small numbers of people with minimal impact, and to ban grazing, timber collection, hunting or the use of firearms.