Butterflies & Moths Imperial Jezebel,C SCott Butterfly,Wood White- Delias aganippe, Carapooee West, A Hughes Butterfly, Australian Admiral-Vanessa itea, Carapooee West, A Hughes Imperial Jezebel,C SCott 1/9

We show you an outline of what St Arnaud and surrounding district have to offer St Arnaud and Region Pastoral development in the region began before 1836 with the explorations of Major Mitchell. What followed has been a rapid clearing of the landscape for agriculture and industry, allowing little more than 5% of the native vegetation to remain. The two primary bioregions of the region are: The Western Goldfields bioregion; characterised by Box-ironbark vegetation communities, and The Wimmera bioregion; characterised by Buloke woodlands and Black-box/lignum wetlands. Landscapes across the area are highly fragmented, with remnant vegetation occurring largely across private land and Public Land Reserves, including but not limited to the Kara Kara National Park, St Arnaud Regional Park, Bolangum and Tottington Conservation Reserves, Wooroonook Lakes, Lake Buloke, Lake Batyo Catyo, Walkers Lake, Dalyenong Conservation Reserve, and Mt Wycheproof. These few remaining sites provide critical habitat to native species, some of which are now endangered or regionally extinct, including Buloke tree, Stuart Mill Spider orchid, Powerful Owl, and Growling grass frog. Reconnecting these landscapes remains a priority project for the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network (BNGLN). https://www.bnglandcare.org/ https://windharphorizons.org/ Click this link to show a map showing parks and reserves around St Arnaud Places to Visit Around the Town The St Arnaud Regional Park surrounds the Town so there is plenty of opportunityto walk or ride along tracks in the Box Ironbark forest. The St Arnaud Field Naturalists have helped Parks Victoria to develop the following nature reserves within the St Arnaud Regional Park. Wax garden Flora Reserve Viewpoint Bell Rock Heritage Reserve The Basin - St Arnaud State Forest Click on any of the brochures to download them. Local Tours Tour guides featuring ‘Historic Buildings in the Town’ and it’s ‘Mine History.’See ‘Historic Walking Trail’ and ‘Mine History Trail’ produced by the St Arnaud Historical Society. Where to get more information Pamphlets, brochures and booklets are all available at The St Arnaud Tourist Information Centre St Arnaud Community Resource Centre The Raillery Hub, St Arnaud St Arnaud Silo and Wall Art Trail Features paintings and portraits by local artist Kyle Torney. Starting in St Arnaud the trail links the Wimmera & Mallee’s small towns through 700km of roads. Read more here . Bike Riding Trails See the Booklet ‘Cycling Trails Around St Arnaud’ Less than one hour to visit Cope Cope area Browns Lake / Lake Cope Cope Lake Nurrumbeet Lake Grassy Round Lake Swanwater West Cemetery … woodland birds in undisturbed buloke woodland Dalyenong Nature Conservation Reserve Kooyoora State Park well managed park, facilities, camping - take a picnic Mount Bolangum Nature Conservation Reserve again take a picnic Kara Kara National Park Teddington Reservoir Teddington Campground Walking trails and birdwatching, situated within Kara Kara National Park. Wooroonook Lakes camping, water recreation, birds Visit the local Facebook pages for great photos Friends avon plains lakes Friends bluegum rise Further afield - weekender / big day out Avon Plains Walkers Lake - camping, water recreation Hollands Lake … a bird haven Banyena River Walk Burrum Burrum Cemetery (remember country cemeteries are rarelydisturbed by the dead or living, making them a haven for bird life and our endemic plants) Bealiba begin at Evans Hotel. Picnic at Bealiba Reservoir, old gold diggings Boort lake cabins, water sports, canoe hire Camping in the Goldfields (around Maryborough and St Arnaud) Butts Reserve Goldfield Glamping Hamilton Crossing Kooyoora State Park Hard Hill Tourist Reserve (near Wedderburn) Laanecoorie River Reserve Moliagul Campground Paddy’s Range Camping Pyrenees Glamping Retreat Secret Lead Slaty Creek Campground Teddington Camping Area Tullaroop Creek Tullaroop Reservoir Waanyarra Camping Grounds Canoe Trails Serpentine Creek CT, Laanecoorie CT, Loddon River CT Central Goldfields Visitors Centre Maryborough Railway Station, Maryborough https://visitmaryborough.com.au Dunolly Museum 75 Broadway, Dunolly for history Goldfields – current UNESCO review for inclusion Running from Mt Buninyong to Bendigo the Goldfields Track (210km) meanders through numerous Parks. Parks near Maryborough and Castlemaine include: Castlemaine Diggings National Park Paddy’s Ranges State Park Maryborough Regional Park Moliagul Historic Reserve. Walk the ‘Welcome Stranger’ discovery walk Visit htpps://www.parks.vic.gov.au Grampians National Park (Gariwerd) https://www.visitgrampians.com.au Laanecoorie Reservoir Walking tracks, birds Mt Arapiles Can drive to top and view the plains below. Nearby quaint town of Natimuk. Rock climbing, bushwalking, bird watching Mt Wycheproof Standing 43 m above surrounding plains is the smallest registered mountain in the world. Visit https://www.visitbuloke.com.au Pyrenees Unearthed Wine and Food Festival At the beginning of April, our winemakers celebrate harvest - a day of sensational wine, delicious food, local produce and live entertainment. Head to Moonambel www.visitpyrenees.com.au Sea Lake Home of ‘big skies’ and Lake Tyrell Talbot Court House Hotel, monthly farmers to stock up for that bush picnic Victorian Goldfields Railway Heritage Goldfields Rail linking historic gold mining towns of Castlemaine and Maldon Visit https://www.VGR.com.au or email info@vgr.com.au Pyrenees Rail Heritage Trail Round circle Tour from Avoca via Amphitheatre, Elmhurst, Crowlands, Landsborough and Navarre. Farmers Markets ... for that picnic Avoca – 4th Sunday of month Talbot – 3rd Sunday of month Carisbrook – 2nd and last Sunday of month Castlemaine -1st Sunday of month Dunolly - 4th Sunday of month Maldon – 2nd Sunday of month

Species that are threatened or vulnerable Fat-tailed Dunnart (Alan Henderson) 2 Pterostylis despectans-Lowly Greenhood , Carapooee West, 29.6.2009, A Hughes Mallee fowl - Debbie Reynolds, Trust for Nature Fat-tailed Dunnart (Alan Henderson) 2 1/17

Review who we are and view the history of the club About Us The St Arnaud Field Naturalists Club was formed in April 1984 to protect rare native orchids in our local Box-Ironbark forest. The Club was formed by a small group of people who had earlier formed ‘The St Arnaud Natural History Group’ within the St Arnaud Historical Society. These people enjoyed getting out into the field to explore and study the particular biodiversity and natural history of the St Arnaud area. The geology, the flora and fauna of the forests and water courses, the relics and traces of the past within the local landscape. In 1984, attempts to preserve St Arnaud’s unique local natural assets began. More about our history and a selection of our historical pics can be found HERE. Who we are: Our Committee is elected annually. We are a not-for-profit charitable organisation and operate under the Victorian Consumer Affairs “Model Rules 2023”. You can find our Constitution HERE. We are committed to providing a safe, inclusive environment for our members and being a child safe organisation in accordance with the “Victorian Child Safe Standards”. See our Code of Conduct policy HERE . See the Landcare Child Safety Guidelines 2022 HERE . The Club's Purposes: To study nature in all aspects. To increase the understanding, enjoyment and appreciation of the local natural environment within the local community and the wider public. To promote the purposes of the Club, by meetings, field excursions, seminars, publications, exhibitions and the printing and circulation of its transactions when appropriate. To take actions for the preservation and conservation of Australian native flora and fauna, natural resources and objects of regional, State and National importance. To form collections and illustrations of natural history specimens. To provide for the permanent housing of the Club’s property. What we do: We organise monthly meetings, activities and excursions for our members. We work in the community, to promote the understanding of biodiversity and respect for our local bushland areas. We work to protect special unique areas and endangered species from perceived threats to their existence. We work to encourage sound land management practices on public and private land. We encourage thoughtful and effective management of the Parks, Reserves and State Forests of the Region. We support the Djaara/Parks Joint Management initiative. We provide critical support to Parks Victoria to help manage particular sites. We support a sensible approach to fire management, one which achieves community safety without destroying the environment. We prepare submissions to government in the name of conservation, and threats to biodiversity in our region. We aim to provide an apolitical conservation voice for the St Arnaud community and surrounds. We produce publications and form collections and illustrations of natural history specimens. We work with other like-minded conservation groups in our broader region. We provide accurate and useful information about conservation and the local environment through social media and our website. . We are associated with: Parks Victoria and the Djaara Joint Management Team South Eastern Australia Naturalists Association SEANA Victorian Field Naturalists Clubs Association VFNCA Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests Maryborough Field Naturalists Club Inc. Field Naturalists Club of Victoria FNCV Wedderburn CMA Friends of Kooyoora North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) Avon Plains-Banyena Land Care Group Buloke and Northern Grampians LandCare Network (BNGLN) Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC)

Birds need food and water Musk lorikeets-Glossopsitta concinna, March 2013 Carapooee West, A Hughes Not your average wetland World Wetlands day 2.2.14 4 Restless Flycatchers, Carapooee West, A Hughes Hungry Times, Grey Butcherbird - + porridge 30.6.2009, Carapooee West, A Hughes Musk lorikeets-Glossopsitta concinna, March 2013 Carapooee West, A Hughes 1/4

Fauna Yellow-footed Antechinus- Antechinus flavipes,Little Dalyenong NCR7.10.09 A Hughes Swamp or Black Wallaby- Wallabia bicolor, Hard Hills, A Hughes Koala on dam bank_carapooee West, Millenium Drought, A Hughes Yellow-footed Antechinus- Antechinus flavipes,Little Dalyenong NCR7.10.09 A Hughes 1/8

Fungi Mosses Orchids Flora Landscapes Butterflies & Moths Insects Reptiles Native Birds Fauna Amphibians Unless otherwise noted, all pictures on this Website are acknowledged to have been produced by Mrs Anne Hughes

Review all thee projects the club has successfully complete Projects Since it was founded in 1984, the St Arnaud Field Naturalists Club Inc has been actively involved with the ‘fencing off’ of specific natural areas to protect rare native flora from disturbance. PAST FENCING/PROTECTION PROJECTS: Hard Hills 1984 7 line rabbit proof Caladenia filamentosa, Inland Pomaderris Wax Garden 1991 Replacement of earlier fence. Area of reserve increased to 6.84Ha from 3.84Ha. Signage. Walking tracks. Numerous threatened species Dalyenong NCR 2004 7 line rabbit/wallaby proof. In conjunction with DSE Biodiversity Unit Bendigo “Back from the Brink” Orchid Project. Re-introduction of Caladenia cruciformis The Basin 2005 Signage and restoration work. Biodiversity Mt Bolangum NCR 2010 7 line rabbit/wallaby/kangaroo proof. In conjunction with DSE Biodiversity Unit, Orchid Project Re-introduction of Thelymitra mackibbinnii PP near Stuart Mill 2010 7 line rabbit proof enclosures Caladenia cretacea PP near Stuart Mill now part of JC Griffin Reserve 2011 6 ft high rabbit proof topped with stocklock. Very old colony of Grey Grasstrees Dalyenong Bushland Reserve 2011 7 line rabbit proof. In conjunction with DSE Biodiversity Unit, Bendigo, Orchid Project Caladenia cretacea and further establishment of same. Kara Kara NP 2011 7 line rabbit proof (study site) Comesperma polygaloides Stuart Mill NCR 2011 7 line rabbit proof. 2 enclosures Grey Grasstree colony Hard Hills 2012 7 line rabbit proof Caladenia ampla PP as above 2012 Small rabbit proof Caladenia cretacea Kara Kara NP 2012 7 line rabbit proof (study site) Comesperma polygaloides Stoney Creek NCR 2016 7 line rabbit proof. Lowly greenhood orchid. To repair burnt out gully. View Point 2016 7 line rabbit proof. 4 small enclosures. Signage. Grey Grasstree (Xanthorrhea glauca ssp. Angustissima) Moolerr Bushland Reserve 2017 Stocklock fencing with many double gates. In conjunction with ‘Bush Heritage’ and Djaara. Signage. 75Ha of Blakeley’s Redgum/Long leaved Box/Buloke woodland Bell Rock 2017 Stocklock fencing. Signage. Walking tracks. Boronia anemonifolia, Cane Speargrass. Others? Unique geological features and HISTORY SIGNIFICANT TREE DATABASE Nominate a Tree for our Significant Tree Database. Northern Grampians Shire Council has a Significant Tree Register . The Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwilli) in the Queen Mary Gardens and the largest Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) at the Market St entrance gate to Market Square are classified by Heritage Victoria as Regionally Significant . The Council recognises that other trees growing within St Arnaud’s main Public Spaces such as The Queen Mary Gardens, the Town Hall, Pioneer Park and King Georges Park have High Amenity Value. What is the Significant Tree Database Council needs help from the community to identify appropriate trees to add to these lists. The St Arnaud Field Naturalists Club is supporting this process by collecting suggestions from residents to create a tree database and, if a case for inclusion can be made, we’ll nominate the tree(s) to Council for special protection. What is a significant tree? It may be an unusual species or outstanding example of its type (native or introduced). It may have historical, social, cultural or religious significance or be a local landmark. It might have important habitat value by providing nesting holes for example. It can be a single tree, an avenue or a group of trees. If you value a special tree please fill in our form. HERE How do I nominate? We would like as much information as possible, but we understand that it may not be possible to provide everything. Just fill in what you can. (Thank you to ‘Broken Hill Landcare’ for sharing their idea) ONGOING PROJECTS: Bird Surveys Small Milkwort (Comesperma polygaloides) Monitoring Wax Garden Maintenance Banksia marginata Seed Collection from established orchards on PP. CURRENT PROJECTS: Website reconstruction Digitization of Herbarium Notable Trees of St Arnaud and District

Reptiles Legless Lizard -Delma inornata,Scorpion Ridge Michael McIntyre Tree or Lace Goanna- Varanus varius A Hughes Jacky Lizard -Amphibolurus muricatus C Scott Legless Lizard -Delma inornata,Scorpion Ridge Michael McIntyre 1/10

These are the forgotten Australians that are in danger of being homeless and hungry. Before you click somewhere else, give some thought to being homeless and hungry. Do you care enough to have a look at who's in trouble or about to be ??? click below Going Going GONE !!! Fat-tailed Dunnart (Alan Henderson) 2 No, I'm NOT a mouse I'm a small marsupial. Please don't hurt me, I don't like mice either. Cute, yes !!! I'm your national emblem. Help me survive too. Fat-tailed Dunnart (Alan Henderson) 2 1/13

Amphibians Brown Tree Frog Brown Tree Frog 1/1

Landscapes around St Arnaud Walkers lake view 19.12.2016 A Hughes View Point looking over St Arnaud, A Hughes bunjil, waa and moon Walkers lake view 19.12.2016 A Hughes 1/18