Diamond Firetail by D Ong
This page is about Terrick Terrick National Park which is located in northern Victoria west of Echuca.
This page is one of several about national parks and reserves located in northern Victoria and the southern Riverina.
Terrick Terrick National Park protects one of the relatively few areas of undisturbed natural vegetation on the plains of northern Victoria.
This page includes some notes about the Terrick Terrick National Park, its Friends Group and other grassland reserves around Mitiamo.
Accessing the Park
The day picnic area, camping area and Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick Terrick) can be accessed from Mitiamo via the Lake Timms-Sylvaterre Road. This road is sealed almost to the park entrance. Turn right onto Picnic Track once the park is entered.The grassland section can be accessed from the Echuca-Mitiamo Road via Kow Swamp Road.
Camping
There is a day picnic area and a free camping ground at the base of Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick Terrick). Toilets are located between the picnic area and the camping area.Groups should contact the ranger by phoning (03) 5450 3951 prior to camping here
There are no commercial caravan parks close to the park. However, there are caravan parks in Cohuna, Echuca, Rochester, Torrumbarry and other towns in the region.
Maps
Mitiamo-Patho 1:50,000 7725-N
VicMap does not have a 1:25,000 map of the area.A map of the park can be downloaded from the web site of Parks Victoria, ParkWeb. This is probably the best available map of the park.
Related pages on this web site
Bushland Reserves of northern Victoria and southern Riverina NSW
External links
Accessing the Park
Various sections of the park can be accessed on roads off the Murray Valley Highway.should be aware of fast-moving boats and keep well away from paddle-wheelers. There is a designated canoe trail incorporating Sages Lagoon on Gunbower Island.
Maps
Visitors are urged to obtain good maps before visiting the forest. Information is available from local Tourist Information Centres.Hayman's double-sided Cohuna-Echuca-Gunbower Forest Activities Map is particularly good.
The following 1:25,000 topographic maps may be useful:
Related pages
External links
Bushland Reserves
of
northern Victoria and the Southern Riverina
Lignum and Box along Bendigo Creek in Terrick Terrick National Park by Keith StockwellTerrick Terrick National Park
including outlying indigenous grassland sections
Introduction
Introduction
Better known to locals as Mitiamo Rock, Mt. Terrick is a low granitic outcrop rising above the flat riverine plains at Mitiamo, west of Echuca, in northern Victoria. This hill, and two others, plus flat land surrounding them are covered in bushland surrounded by flat grasslands and cropped country. Together, the granitic outcrops, surrounding open forest, indigenous grassland plains and vegetation alongside Bendigo Creek form the core of Terrick Terrick National Park. The park protects one of the few areas of relatively undisturbed vegetation in northern Victoria. In the first decade of the 21st century, several outlying paddocks of native grassland were added to the National Park.
Over-grazing and the extraction of gravel in the past have had adverse impacts upon the areas surrounding the rocky outcrops. Yellow Gum was cut and Callitris Pine favoured. The understorey was depleted.
Before the national park was declared, the forested section was a State Park, and prior to the declaration of the State Park a reserve. Despite being a reserve for many years, some forestry and grazing continued until late in the twentieth century. Once these activities ceased, the vegetation began to recover but what we see today is quite different from how the area looked 200 years ago. There are more Callitris Pines and more tree thickets. In places, the shrub layer is no more. In other places, the shrub layer is recovering, young shrubs growing amongst a few very old ones. Some of the original animal inhabitants are now locally extinct. But others, e.g. Echidna and Kangaroos, have survived.
The purchase of a 1262 hectare grazing property, which was still covered in native grasses and which supported more Plains-wanderers than any area of comparable size in Victoria, plus the largest dunnart colony in Victoria, resulted in the reserve's status being upgraded to a National Park. The recently-acquired property is between the existing State Park and an area east of Bendigo Creek. In Victoria, grassy lowland plain is an endangered ecosystem. More recently, some outlying grassland blocks have been declared part of the National Park.
Ms Dorothy Davies lived in this house before it and surrounding grassland
paddocks became a part of the park. Attendees at the annual Friends weekend (first weekend of October) can camp alongside the house. (Photo: K Stockwell)To the east of the forested section, Bendigo Creek runs through the main grassland section. The creek area includes Lignum (a thin-leafed shrub which provides protection for small birds) and River Red Gum. The grassland additions means Terrick Terrick National Park has the largest native grassland area of any Victorian conservation park.
Before the large new additions, this park covered a contiguous area of 2,500 hectares. Additions have increased the size to about 5,890 hectares.
Terrick Terrick National Park protects four distinct habitat areas:
rocky (granitic) outcrops
open forest, including White Cypress Pine woodland
indigenous grassland plains
riverine areas (including Bendigo Creek and dams)
There is a different composition of plants and animals in each zone.
Vegetation
Rocky Outcrops
There are some prominent rocky outcrops in the park, including Mitiamo Rock (Mt Terrick Terrick) and Riegal Rock.Mt Terrick Terrick illustrates the old saying that what is a mountain in one region may not even be called a hill in another: Mt Terrick Terrick is a mere 95 metres high. The "Rock" can be climbed in a few minutes but allows great views across the very flat plains of northern Victoria.
Rock Isotome in rock crevasse, Mt Terrick Terrick (photo: D Ong)Rock Isotome (Isotoma axillaris) grows in cracks of granitic rock.
A variety of shrubs and grasses grow amongst rocky tors near the base of the rock outcrops. Some plants of this area include Deanes Wattle (Acacia deanii), Mint Bush and Rock Correa (Correa glabra).
Near one of the other granitic outcrops, Reigal Rock, there are some aboriginal wells, both large and small, one of which still has a rock cover lying alongside it! And the cap fits. There are some aboriginal wells on the western side of Mt Terrick Terrick, one of which still has its rock cap.
Open Forest
Some open forest in the park is dominated by Allocasuarina and some parts by Grey Box. But it is a native pine, White Cypress Pine, that dominates most of the woodland areas.Terrick Terrick National Park has Victoria's largest stand of native White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla), giving such sections of the park a European rather than Australian appearance.
White Cypress Pine: Terricks has a European appearance in places (K Stockwell)Although White Cypress Pine is the dominant tree in much of the woodland, Grey Box usually grows amongst it. Many of the understorey plants have long since been lost from much of the woodland but everlastings and native grasses have recovered well.
The Grey Kangaroo, Black Wallaby and Tree Goanna are common in the open woodland section of the park. Threatened or endangered birds likely to be observed include Gilbert's Whistler, Mallee Ringneck, Cockatiel, Diamond Firetail, Peaceful Dove, Eastern Yellow Robin (possibly a hybrid between southern and northern forms) , Southern Whiteface, Grey-crowned Babbler and Brown Tree Creeper (subspecies Victoria). The Black Honeyeater has occasionally been observed. A pair of Painted Honeyeaters recently had a nest in the Park.
Unfortunately the area has endured a long and severe drought. This has impacted upon the plants and wildlife. The park used to sups. Diamond Firetail nests in the Park are often decorated with everlasting daisy flowers.
Diamond Firetail and Xerochrysum bracteatum (D Ong)
Western Gerygone is sometimes observed on the western side of the reserve, rarely elsewhere in the Park.
Both local and Tasmanian forms of Striated Pardalote and Silvereye have been observed in the Park. The local form of Striated Honeyeater has a red spot on the shoulder whereas the Tasmania form has a yellow spot. Identify the Tasmanian form of Silvereye by the rufous (brown) colour on its sides.
Access the open forest and rocky outcrop section of the Park from Mitiamo Forest Road, at southern end of park. Pamphlet box at entrance. VicRoads Map 30 E4. Topographic map: Mitiamo-Patho 7725-N 1:50,000 (VicMap).
Apart from Mt Terrick Terrick (Mitiamo Rock) area, few people (apart from bird observers) visit this park. But it is worth a visit, especially in Spring when the everlastings are in bloom.
Now that cattle grazing has ended and rabbit numbers have fallen, the vegetation is recovering particularly well, there are lots of young pine trees and everlastings are thriving. In places, wattle and hop bush are reappearing. Hakea, Sandalwood, Drooping She-oak and Bulloke are regenerating well on the eastern side of the cemetery.
Unfortunately introduced weeds like Paterson's Curse, Horehound, Wheel Cactus (Prickly Pear), Box Thorn and Capeweed are a problem in this section of the park.
Indigenous Grassland Plains
The grassland section of Terrick Terrick protects several species of plant which are rare and threatened in the region, e.g. Annual Buttons, Pepper Grass, Bottle Bluebush, Fragrant Leech Orchid and Murray Swainson Pea.The first and largest grassland plain addition to the Park was managed by the Davies family on a low-input basis, grazing stock at conservative levels, from the early 1900s until the late 1990s. They had no need to add super- phosphate, herbicides and other chemicals. Fortunately for animals such as the Plains-wanderer and the Hooded Scaley-foot, and plants such as Plains Leek-orchid and Annual Buttons, the owners were not tempted by the economic returns supposedly offered by the addition of super phosphate and so forth. Rather, they preferred the conservative approach and enjoyed a unique life-style. No fewer than 28 of the 1200 indigenous plants recorded for the property are of significance. Annual Buttons, which grows on the property and no where else, was believed to be extinct until discovered growing on this property.
Some grasslands plants fesound here are Bottle Bluebush (Maireana excavata), Yam Daisy (Microseris lanceolata), Broughton Pea (Swainsona procumbens), Red Swainson-pea (Swainsona plagiotropis), Drumsticks (Pycenosorus globosus), Paper Sunray (Rhodanthe corymbiflora), Pink Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus exaltatus), Bulbine Lilly (Bulbine bulbosa), and Lemon Beauty Heads (Calocephalus citreus). In addition, the grasslands support a number of different native grasses, including Windmill Grass (Chloris truncata), Poa, Spear Grasses (Austrostipa spp), Wire Grass (Aristida ramosa) and Wallaby Grasses (Austrodanthonia and Amphibromus spp).
Female Plains-wanderer (photo: D Ong)The grassland supports the largest known colony of Plains-wanderers in Victoria. The Plains-wanderer is a small bird resembling Button Quail. This is a fastidious bird, demanding native grasses and daisies and grassland tall enough to conceal it from predators. Its plumage offers excellent camouflage. A few years back, Deniliquin bird observer sighted 27 Plains-wanderer on the grassland area. Parks Victoria believe that over 100 individuals of this species live within the Park. Plains-wanderer are regularly observed on the evenings of the Friends weekend each October.
Indigenous grasslands at Terrick Terrick (photo: K Stockwell)The Park's grassland birds are not prolific in number. Apart from Plains-wanderer, some other birds often observed on the grasslands include Australasian (Richards) Pipit and Brown Songlark.
The endangered Hooded Scaley-foot is a legless lizard found in the grasslands here; it grows up to 450mm in length.
The grasslands are home to Victoria's largest colony of Fat-tailed Dunnarts. Dunnarts may rely on a periodic abundance of such insects as locusts to stimulate breeding. A local ecologist believes that locusts and grasshoppers play an important role in the ecosystem and should not sprayed within the Park. For more information, check out his Save The Locust site. Many species of birds also feast on locusts and grasshoppers.
The best time for visiting here is Spring. It is usually very hot in summer. In summer and autumn, gaiters are advisable to protect against grass seeds. March Flies can be annoying in autumn. It is wise to avoid walking through high grass: the Brown Snake is found here. A walking circuit could incorporate Mitiamo Rock, Reigal's Rock and Rogers Road.
There are a number of out-lying grassland reserves in this area, many of which, as a result of legislation passed in 2009, have been added to the Park: Terrick Terrick East NCR (corner Tomara Road and Clee Road), Tomara Gilgai NCR, Roslynmead NCR (between Davis and Murray roads), Patho NCR (off Kelly Road), Kotta NCR (alongside Whitfield Road), Pinegrove NCR (alongside Mitiamo-Echuca Road), Warup NCR (alongside Pinegrove Road), Canegrass NCR (off Baxter Road), Millewa NCR (south end of Cantwell Road) and Glassons Grassland.
As a management tool, sheep will continue to lightly graze the grasslands area over Winter to help keep introduced grasses at bay, to encourage the growth of native grasses and to help ensure that the grassland meets the fastidious requirements of the Plains-wanderer. The sheep are withdrawn when the native grasses are flowering and setting seed, i.e. over Spring and Summer.
See the indigenous plants section of this site for photographs and more information about the region's vegetation.
Riverine Area
Bendigo Creek (formerly called Picanninny Creek) flows north through the main grassland area of the park. It is lined with Box, Red Gum and Lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) This vegetation type is shown in the photograph at top of this page.The importance of Lignum is not appreciated by many of us. Lignum, a large tangled shrub which is virtually leafless, provides good habitat for wrens and other small birds. It readily grows following heavy rain or minor flooding. It is a plant that prefers heavy grey soil depressions and is common along creek lines. Over the years, many farmers have removed lignum from their properties.
At night, Barn Owls, Boobooks and Tawny Frogmouths are sometimes seen along this section of Bendigo Creek.
Greenhouse Offsets
The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) recently received funding to revegetate about 150 hectares of degraded land within Terrick Terrick National Park. The cost of revegetating parts of Ferris and Riegal paddocks was around $250,000 and was be met using greenhouse gas offset monies. Infested with weeds, both paddocks have been ploughed and grazed in the past. Areas where indigenous grasses and shrubs have 'come back well' were not affected. DSE prepared the soil and liaised with Parks Victoria, Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park and representatives of the traditional owners. Works complied with the Park's Management Plan and did not impinge on grasslands used by the endangered Plains-wanderer.
In addition, a wildlife corridor of indigenous vegetation has been planted across private land to link the main area of forest in the Park to Bendigo Creek in the east and Bullock Creek in the west.
Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park
Friends of the Terrick Terrick National Park organise an annual weekend of activities each October (the weekend after the AFL grand final. They are currently developing their own web page
The following was written for this site by Chris Coleborn, the first secretary of Friends of Terrick Terrick National Park.
This Friends organization, with the support of Parks Victoria, seeks to preserve and protect this small gem of a National Park in central northern Victoria near the town of Mitiamo.
Terrick Terrick is an important National Park because it protects some of the last remaining native vegetation of the northern Victorian plains as well as being the habitat of a range of rare and endangered animals. It contains the largest standing White Pine (Cypress-pine) forest in Victoria. It also includes stands of Buloke, Grey and Yellow Box, and a fragmented understorey of remnant woodland plants, such as Hopbush, Gold-dust Wattle and Deane's Wattle.
Significantly, it encompasses remnants of the last remaining native grassland in Northern Victoria. Plants such as Annual Buttons and Plains Leek-orchids, Murray Swainson-pea, and the Red Swainson-pea flourish in the grasslands, while along the Bendigo Creek section other vegetation types such as Lignum swamps and Black Box woodland, with its associated animals, can be found.
Over thirty plant species of conservation significance are found in the Park, including more than twelve that are listed as nationally threatened. Most of the Cypress-pines are over a hundred years old. In the wooded section mammals such as Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Common Brushtail Possums, Swamp Wallaby and several species of bats may be found. Reptiles such as Gould's Sand Monitors and several species of snakes, including the endangered Carpet Python, are to be seen around the fascinating and striking granite outcrops or under the beautiful Cypress-pine woodlands.
Here too, such special birds as Gilbert's Whistler, Southern Whiteface, Black-chinned Honeyeater, Crested Shrike-tit, Hooded and Red-cap Robins, Painted Button-quail and Australian Ringneck Parrots make their home. Threatened species such as Grey-crowned Babblers and Bush Stone-curlew are also found here. Occasionally rare vagrants turn up too, such as Red-chested Button-quail, Inland Dotterel and Grey Falcon.
Over 170 species of birds have been recorded in the Park. Out on the grassland section unique, beautiful and rare animals are to be found. This is the home of one of the rarest birds in the world, the Plains-wanderer. Here too is found the strikingly marked Hooded Scaly-foot, the small Curl Snake and other lizards such as the Eastern Stone Gecko. A delicate little marsupial, the Fat-tailed Dunnart also makes his home here.
Unusual invertebrates such as the Plainsland Frog Hopper and Gumleaf Grasshopper may be found here too, as well as Wolf Spiders, Centipedes and Scorpions. There is evidence of past Aboriginal occupation which includes midden sites, rock wells, burial sites and scarred trees.
The name Terrick Terrick is of Aboriginal origin, although its meaning is not clear. There is a network of roads that take you through the wooded section of the Park. Maps and further information on the Park can be obtained from the local ranger in charge, Mark Tscharke. He is based at Kerang, and can be contacted on (03) 5450 3951. Interested members of the public are invited to become members of the Friends Group and support this special Park.
The Friends of Terricks plan to run a special weekend each Spring where there will be talks and activities. Various outings are also planned for throughout the year.
Projects are being set up to survey the Park's fauna and flora, and volunteers will be needed for these activities. A bi-annual Newsletter is to be published.
Membership is $10 per annum. An application form for membership and further details can be obtained either from the Friends of Terricks Secretary Simon Starr or from the Convener Fred Belli (e-mail fbelli at bordernet. com. au phone 03 5455 7410). Or, simply send name and address and subscription to the Secretary.
Click here to download a copy of the latest Friends of Terrick Terrick newsletter (compressed pdf file). This newsletter contains information about a Friends weekend in October and contact details.
Outlying grassland reserves
Apart from those owned by Trust for Nature, most of the following are being incorporated into the National Park even though they are separated from it by privately-owned land.
* Canegrass Swamp ~ a small indigenous grassland reserve off Baxter Road, west of Echuca
* Glassons Grassland ~ owned by the Trust for Nature, this indigenous grassland is located south-east of Terricks. Locals help manage the property and use sheep as a management tool to keep weeds at bay and to help maintain optimal conditions for Plains-wanderer. Direct enquiries to Trust for Nature (Mr Eris O'Brien).
* Kotta NCR
Kotta NCR is a 226 hectare grassland reserve alongside Whitfield Road Kotta (West of Echuca). It adjoins Glassons Grassland (which is owned by Trust for Nature and managed for the Trust by local naturalists) and privately-owned convenant-protected indigenous grassland. It has been reserved to help protect the endangered Plains Wanderer, Fat-tailed Dunnart and endangered indigenous grasses.* Patho Native Flora Reserve and NCR
Patho Flora Reserve and NCR is a small area (75ha) of native grassland west of Echuca. Because most of the indigenous grassland which covered the northern plains have been lost, this is an important reserve. It is treeless. Parks Victoria recently acquired adjoining native grassland to add to the reserve. A nearby lignum swamp may offer better birding opportunities. Location: Kelly Road, off Tomara Road, VicRoads Map 30 H3.* Pinegrove NCR ~ a small area (38ha) of endangered northern plains grassland alongside the Mitiamo-Echuca Road. Gilgaes and natural drainage lines are still present.
* Roslynmead NCR ~ indigenous grassland at Roslynmead (Patho Plain).
*Terrick Terrick East NCR ~ a 212 hectare grassland reserve at the corner of Tomara and Clee Roads, east of Terrick Terrick N.P. It not only provide suitable habitat for the endangered Plains Wanderer but also contains populations of two nationally threatened plants: Chariot Wheels (Maireana chealii) and Slender Darling Pea. Some birds uncommon in the area are sometimes observed here. In November 2007 Inland Dotterels, Banded Lapwing and Australian Pratincoles were observed in this reserve.
Australian Pratincole at Terricks East (photo: D Ong)*The Meadows Wildlife Reserve
* Tomara Gilgais NCR ~ 336 hectares of endangered northern plains grassland south of Terrick Terrick East NCR. Plains wanderer and Brolga have been observed on the grassland which features some significant flora, including Umbrella Wattle (Acacia oswaldii), Spiny Lignum and Yakka Grass.
* Wanurp NCR ~ a 120 hectare indigenous grassland reserve alongside Pinegrove Road, west of Echuca. Known habitat for Bush Stone Curlew.
Bush Stone Curlew (K Stockwell)Potential threats facing Terrick Terrick National Park
Potential threats include:
- climate change, resulting in increased temperatures, prolonged drought and increased incidence of storms
- mining (if ever permitted)
- lack of policing and enforcement of park rules, resulting in tree removal, fires, rubbish deposition, vandalism
- fire
- weed encroachment (e.g. Patersons Curse, Capeweed, Box Thorn, Round Cactus)
- feral animals (e.g. rabbits) and excessive number of kangaroos
- removal of sheep from grasslands over winter; retention of sheep on grasslands over summer
Terrick Terrick National Park
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Northern Victoria and Southern Riverina Conservation and Environment Site
Section 1: Conservation news Section 5: Bush photographs Section 2: Bushwalking Section 6: Bushland reserves Section 3: Birding Section 7: Indigenous animals Section 4: Indigenous plants Section 8: Conservation Links
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Last updated January 2010. Webmeister: K Stockwell.
