Recently, Bill Gurnett mentioned a reserve, new to him, that was now the responsibility of Parks Victoria, Drumdlemara Reserve off the Tarwin Lower-Meeniyan Road, 2k north of the Fish Creek-Wilsons Promontory turnoff. He asked members of the Foster Branch to visit the Reserve to take photos of the old gate for a grant application to have the gate replaced and appropriate signage erected. We went on a lovely sunny winter's afternoon in June and noted the birds and plants, as well as enjoying the beauty of the wetlands that now fill the gravel pits.

We have species lists from Ellen Lyndon (1970 and 1979), Terri Allen and Eulalie Brewster (2003) and Mary Ellis (2009), giving a reasonably comprehensive list of plants and birds. As usual some animals were seen or heard: Grey Kangaroo, Wombat, frogs.

Birds included Welcome Swallow, Eastern and Crimson Rosellas, Australian Raven, Striated Pardalote, Fan-tail Cuckoo, Red-browed Finch, Grey Fantail, Masked Lapwing, Kingfisher, Superb Fairy Wren, Grey Shrike Thrush, White-browed Scrub-wren, Magpie, Wood Duck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Yellow-eared Honeyeater, Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike, Swamphen and Moorhen.

The vegetation belongs to the Ecological Vegetation Class Wet Heathland and is one of the best examples in South Gippsland. Typically low in stature the trees are Bog Gum Eucalyptus kitsoniana and Narrow-leaf Peppermint E. radiata. Prickly Tea-tree Leptospermum continentale, Scrub Sheoak Allocasuarina paludosa, Swamp and Scented Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia and M. squarrosa form the mid-storey. The understorey species are common heathland plants, including orchids according to season. It is a wonderful site to visit to learn some botany.

The wetlands hold water all year round, possibly spring-fed. Access is a comfortable walk from the road. The view across the plains can be seen from the top of Thomas Road, on the northern boundary of the Reserve.

The name Grass Tree Hill derives from the presence of both Grass-tree species, Xanthorrhoea australis and X. minor.

Mary Ellis