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The Snape Reserve is a significant remnant. It is 846 hectares in area and is adjacent to the Little Desert National Park and near the township of Dimboola in northwest Victoria. This extremely diverse property was acquired by Trust for Nature in 2002 to protect its significant conservation values. There are at least ten distinct vegetation types on the property, including river red gum swamps, several types of woodlands including the endangered buloke woodland, yellow gum woodland and cypress-pine woodland with large areas of heathland and heathy woodland. The range of habitats present on the property would be expected to support a diversity of fauna. The Snape Reserve is on Old Racecourse Road, near Dimboola in the Shire of Hindmarsh |
Contact Us
Chairman |
Lindsay Smith OAM |
14 Wotonga Drive |
Horsham 3400 |
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| Phone: (03) 5381 0081 | ||
Email: Lindsay Smith |
Committee of Management
Snape Reserve is run by a committee of management. Many hours of work are carried out each year to control weeds, feral animals and improving the property. Committee members come from a wide geographical area and have a variety of skills such as fencing, building and knowledge of flora and fauna. Existing Committee members are:
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| Darryl Argall AM | Dimboola | |
| Mary Argall | Dimboola | |
| Ian Barry | Dimboola | |
| Adam Blake | Horsham | Trust for Nature Wimmera Regional Manager. |
| Greg Bourke | Warracknabeal | Background in nursing. Has a block of land wtih 13 acres of native vegetation. Enjoys all aspects of nature. Assists with all aspects of management. |
| Ian Flux | Horsham | Degree in Forestry. Background in supply, farm work and parasitic pest control. Involved with weed control on the reserve. |
| Jan John | Dimboola | Interests include nature and photography. Involved with tourism. |
| Terry Lynch | Warracknabeal | Background in farming, shearing and grader driving. Interested in all aspects of the environment. Assists with all aspects of management. |
| John Rocke | Dimboola | |
| Lindsay Smith OAM | Horsham | Chairman of Committee. Background in farming and insurance. Interested in biodiversity and its importance in the local region. Involved with vermin, weed control and all aspects of running the reserve. |
| Sue Smith | Horsham | Secretary / Treasurer of Committee. Degree in Science (Physics). Background in teaching and insurance. Interest in native flora and fauna and their conservation. Involved with recording and mapping the reserve, vermin and weed control. |
| Brian Snape AM | Melbourne | Degree in Science (Chemistry). Background in oil industry. Chairman of Trust for Nature (1992-2002). Interested in natural environment particularly arid areas. |
| Cliff Unger | Dimboola | Vice Chairman |
| Fiona Werner | Dimboola |
Annual Report
Click here to download the Snape Reserve Annual Report 2021-2022
Visitors |
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The Committee of Management of Snape Reserve welcomes the visit of groups, but this must be pre-arranged with the Chairman. See "Contacts" for details. No access is allowed on days of Total Fire Ban. Walking access is permitted with a day pass available at the Information Bay near the entrance to Snape Reserve. A donation of $2 per adult is requested. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Visitors must sign the Visitor Record Book at the Information Bay. All rubbish is to be taken away. No animals allowed, except guide and medical companion dogs. No camping. No shooting. No bicycles. No Motor Bikes. |
Birds |
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Diamond Firetails and Silvereyes (Photo: Lindsay Smith) |
Many groups of bird watching enthusiasts have visited Snape Reserve since Trust for Nature purchased the property. Some groups have camped at the reserve. Interested groups should contact the Chairman - see "Contacts". The current bird count for Snape Reserve is 177 species. Typically bird counts on a day visit are over 50 species. Click here to download a bird list. |
Fauna |
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Western Pygmy Possum (Photo: Clive Crouch) |
A number of student groups have visited Snape Reserve since Trust for Nature bought the property. All visiting groups must agree to uphold a set of conditions determined by Snape Reserve's management committee. For detail contact the Chairman - see "Contacts" Click here to download a list of known species. |
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Revegetation |
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Project Hindmarsh Volunteers 2003 |
| As a part of Project Hindmarsh, in August 2003 around 50 volunteers planted 20 hectares of the Snape Reserve. This had been farm land for many years. As well there was direct seeding carried out by Greening Australia in the same area |
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Teacher and students from Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, 2004 |
| In 2004 students from Dimboola Memorial Secondary College helped plant a further 13 hectares of farmed land. |
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Above: Part of area revegetated in 2003 photgraphed in September 2004 Below: The same area in photographed in September 2009 |
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Project Hindmarsh Volunteers 2013 |
| As a part of Project Hindmarsh, in August 2013, more than 80 volunteers planted a total of 14.2 ha in 3 different areas of Snape Reserve. |
Wetlands There are a number of ephemeral wetlands on Snape Reserve. The rainfall of over 170 mm of rain over 3 days followed by flooding of the Wimmera River in January 2011 resulted in the filling of all the wetlands of Snape Reserve. |
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Black Box Swamp |
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Wimmera Woodruff Swamp |
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Peppercress Swamp |
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Callistemon Swamp and Dam |
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The aerial view above shows the Old Racecourse Swamp at Snape Reserve. Photo: Glenn Rudolph. |
The Aborigines of this area lived as hunter-gatherers in small family bands of the Kreitch balug clan, which belonged to the Wotjobaluk tribe. The sandy area on the northeastern side of the Snape Reserve was used as a campsite and evidence of this occupation can still be found in the form of stone scatters and burials. The Snape Reserve was part of Upper Regions Station, which was occupied by squatter William Patterson in March 1845. The next licence holder, Daniel Cameron, split the Lochiel Run off from Upper Regions in December 1856. The Wimmera River was the border between the two properties, so each had access to water. The Dimboola Race Club had formed by 1873. Early race meetings were held on the largest ephemeral swamp on Snape Reserve. In 1884 the course had moved to the Park Reserve in the town of Dimboola. In 1884 Elizabeth Brown Moffatt leased Allotment 120, Parish of Watchegatcheca, County of Lowan, which was 10.5 square miles (2715 hectare) and included Snape Reserve. The lease passed to John Bushby in 1888. The Bushby family selected the land which they held till 1952. Trust for Nature acquired the property in 2002, recognizing that despite nearly 160 years of grazing and some cropping it has significant conservation values. It is 846 hectares in area and is adjacent to the Little Desert National Park and near the township of Dimboola. Snape Reserve was named to honour the personal generosity of Diana and Brian Snape. Brian served as Trust Chairman for 10 years.
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