The Heathland Reserve
The Waratah-Wynyard Council in partnership with the Friends of Remnant Heathland of Wynyard (FORHOW) came together to relocate rare and endangered species of plants from a vacant block at Goldie Street, Wynyard to Frederick Street Reserve. This heathland transfer was the first of its kind in Tasmania and is an important step toward flora conservation in Waratah-Wynyard.
With the help of 75 volunteers, over 60 plants were relocated, some of which are the only living specimen in the Wynyard region.
Now proudly located at Frederick St Reserve, off Lowe St in Wynyard, The Heathland Reserve is able to be viewed by the public at any time.
Please use the boardwalk provided as trampling the plants will cause damage and potential loss.
Plants in The Heathland Reserve
Amperea xiphoclada
(Broom Spurge)
Rare to Wynyard, this clumping understorey shrub with erect stems and tiny yellow flowers in spring, on almost leafless stems.
H 30-60cm W 20-30cm.
Found in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld in sandy heaths.
Aotus ericoides
(Golden Pea)
Small shrub with profuse yellow pea flowers with a red throat.
Found in Tas, SA Vic, NSW, Qld.
Bauera rubiodes
(Dog Rose/Wiry Bauera)
Sprawling wiry shrub, with varied form boasting white to dark pink flowers predominantly in spring, but sporadic throughout the year.
H 50cm – 3 m W 1-3 m
Found in shady moist areas in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW
Baumea tetragona
(Square Twig Rush)
Slender rush with square profile in upper part with reddish brown tiny flowers through the year.
H 30 – 120cm
Found in Tas, SA. Vic, NSW, Qld
Amperea xiphoclada
(Broom Spurge)
Rare to Wynyard, this clumping understorey shrub with erect stems and tiny yellow flowers in spring, on almost leafless stems.
H 30-60cm W 20-30cm.
Found in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld in sandy heaths.
Aotus ericoides
(Golden Pea)
Small shrub with profuse yellow pea flowers with a red throat.
Found in Tas, SA Vic, NSW, Qld.
Bauera rubiodes
(Dog Rose/Wiry Bauera)
Sprawling wiry shrub, with varied form boasting white to dark pink flowers predominantly in spring, but sporadic throughout the year.
H 50cm – 3 m W 1-3 m
Found in shady moist areas in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW
Baumea tetragona
(Square Twig Rush)
Slender rush with square profile in upper part with reddish brown tiny flowers through the year.
H 30 – 120cm
Found in Tas, SA. Vic, NSW, Qld
Boronia parviflora
(Swamp Baronia)
Not found anywhere else in Wynyard, this small trailing usually perennial shrub has small pink to white flowers crowded along branch tips in spring to summer.
H 0.3-1m W 0.3-1m
Found in wet heaths in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, QLD
Boronia pilosa
(Hairy Boronia)
Rare to Wynyard, this is a small erect, scented woody shrub with pink/white four petalled flowers in bunches at the end of stems
in spring and summer.
H 0.3-1m W 0.5-0.75m Widespread to 1000m
Found in Tas, SA, Vic
Bossiaea cordigera
(Wiry Bossia)
Found no where else in Wynyard, this is a wiry, scrambling, mostly ground hugging shrub boasts single golden yellow and red pea flowers on a long stalk in spring.
H 0-40cm W 50-100cm
Understorey plant found in moist area around Tas and Vic.
Calochilus paludosus
(Red Beard Orchid)
A single fleshy light green leaf rises in spring with up to nine greenish flowers with reddish stripes and a reddish brown “beard”.
Found in heathlands throughout Eastern Australia and New Zealand.
Cassytha glabella
(Slender Dodder)
Fine, hairless, perennial parasitic twiner.
Tiny white/ cream flowers in crowded heads in late spring
and summer.
H 1-2m W 1-3m
Found in heathlands and open forest throughout Australia.
Centella caoridolia
(Swamp Pennywort)
Prostrate herb with circular, heart shaped leaves which are toothed around the edge.
Small white to pink to purple flowers in summer.
H 0-10cm W 0.5-2m
Found in patchy in swamps throughout Southern Australia.
Comesperma calmega
(Blue Spike Milkwort)
Erect, perennial understorey plant with tiny mauve / blue flowers maturing from the base up the stem in late spring and summer.
H 20-40
Found in sandy heaths around Tas, SA, Vic, WA
Danthonia species
(Wallaby Grass)
30+ species occur throughout southern Australia identified by their white, fluffy seed heads.
Dianella revoluta
(Spreading Flax Lily)
A tufted perennial herb spreading by rhizomes into clumps. Boasting 6 petalled blue/purple flowers with yellow stamens in open bunches on long stalks in late spring and summer followed by an edible blue/purple berry
H 30-100cm W 0.5-2.5m
Found in Tea tree heaths in Tas, WA, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld
Drosera species
(Sundew)
Small perennial insectivorous sundew. White flowers on a stem varying times through the year.
H -40cm
Found in wet heathlands in throughout Australia
Empodisma minus
(Rope Rush)
Small rush which will become a tangled groundcover in permanently moist areas. With tiny brown flowers on bright green twisty stems.
H – 40cm
Found in wet heathlands in Tas, QLD, Vic and New Zealand
Epacris impressa
(Common Heath)
Erect, straggly understorey shrub. White, pink or red tubular flowers extending down the stem from autumn through to spring.
H 0.5-1m W 0.2-0.5m
Widespread in Tas, SA Vic, NSW
Epacris lanugunosa
(Swamp Heath)
Small, erect, wiry, short-branched shrub. Tubular white flowers form in clusters at the top of stems in spring and summer.
H 0.5-1m W 0.5-0.8m
Found in wet heathlands in Tas, Vic, NSW
Gonocarpus micranthus (Creeping Raspwort)
Perennial, low growing, layering herb. Tiny red flowers near ends of stems in summer.
H 5-15cm W 5-50cm
Found in damp areas at sea level to sub alpine in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld
Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalus
(Button Grass Flower)
Sedge forming clumps of long, narrow yellow-brown leaves with numerous long cylindrical stems with creamy white tiny flowers in a spherical bunch at the tip of long stems in spring and summer.
H -1.2m W 0.6-1.2m
Gymnoschoenus sphaerocephalis
(Button Grass Plant)
Sedge forming clumps of long, narrow yellow-brown leaves with numerous long cylindrical stems with creamy white tiny flowers in a spherical bunch at the tip of long stems in spring and summer.
H -1.2m W 0.6-1.2m
Hibbertia procumbens (Spreading Guinea Flower)
Rare to Wynyard, this is a prostrate, small spreading shrub with 5 Golden, round petalled flowers on long stalks in spring.
W 1m
Found in coastal heathland in Tas, Vic
Leucopogon austalis
(Spike Beard Heath)
Erect, small woody shrub with Tiny white tubular flowers in spikes in spring.
H 1.5-2m W 0.5 – 1m
Found in coastal heaths in Tas, Vic, WA
Leucopogon virgatus
(Twiggy Beard Heath)
Rare to Wynyard, this is a small, erect wiry open bush boasting clusters of pink buds maturing to white tubular flowers in spring.
H 10-40cm W 40-50cm
Found in coastal heath in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld
Lindsaea linearis
(Screw Fern)
Rare to Wynyard this is a small fern with fronds having a twisting appearance.
Widespread distribution in many parts of Australia near swamps or moist places.
Lomandra longifolia
(Matt Rush)
A perennial clumping rush with glossy green flat leaves toothed and ragged on the ends with Creamy white honey scented flowers on tall stems late winter through spring and is a dioecious plant.
H 0.4 – 1.0m W 1-2m
Found throughout SE Australia
Melaleuca squamea
(Swamp Honey Myrtle)
Small to medium erect shrub with mauve to white terminal globular flowers in Spring and summer.
H 1-2.5m W 1.2 – 2m
Found in wet heaths up to 1500m above sea level in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW
Microtis unifolia
(Common Onion Orchid)
A single hollow green leaf rises in spring with a flowering stem up to 60cm high. Between 10 and 100 tiny yellowish green flowers are displayed on the top section of stem.
Mitrasacme pilosa
(Hairy Mitrewort)
Rare to Wynyard, this Perennial, matting herb has four white round petalled flowers on branch tips in spring.
W – 30cm
Found in varied habitats up to 700m above sea level in Tas, Vic, SA, NSW
Patersonia fragilis
(Flag Iris)
Small tufted herb with firm narrow dull green leaves with single three petalled blue/mauve flowers on short stems throughout spring and summer.
H 10-20cm W 30-40cm
Found in moist coastal heaths in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW
Pimelea linifolia
(Slender Riceflower)
Wiry, open shrub. Cluster of creamy tubular flowers, with bright orange stamens and large red/green sepals in spring.
H 0.5- 2m W 0.5 – 1.5m
Understory in moist forest in Tas, Vic, SA, NSW, Qld
Samolus repens
(Creeping Brookweed)
Low growing, semi-succulent spreading herb with five pale pink to white pointed petals that form in summer.
H 5-20cm W 25-100cm
Found along edges of coastal rivers. Widespread.
Selaginella uliginosa
(Swamp Selaginella)
Rare to Wynyard, this Slender, often branched clubmoss that may be erect or more-or-less prostrate. The leaves are in four rows - one on each side of the stem.
H 40cm
Common in low peaty bogs.
Sphagnum
Threatened native begetation community.
Distinctive mats of bright green when wet, to yellow multi branched soft moss, usually associated with other heathland plants.
H 0.4m
Found in large mats wet peaty areas.
Stylidium graminifolium
(Trigger Plant - flower head)
A variable tufted herb with fleshy grass-like leaves. A long spike of numerous small bright pink (occasionally white) flowers in late spring to summer.
H 5-50cm W 10-20cm
Found in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld
Stylidium graminifolium
(Trigger Plant)
A variable tufted herb with fleshy grass-like leaves. A long spike of numerous small bright pink (occasionally white) flowers in late spring to summer.
H 5-50cm W 10-20cm
Found in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, Qld
Thelymitra species
(Sun Orchid)
A single rising stem in spring and summer with blue lily-like flowers closing at night.
Thelionema caespitosum
(Tufted Lily - Flower Detail)
A small tufted open herb with long leaves. Many white (sometimes blue) flowers opening in succession on single branching stems in late spring to summer.
H to 30cm
Found in coastal wet heathlands in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, QLD
Thelionema caespitosum
(Tufted Lily)
A small tufted open herb with long leaves. Many white (sometimes blue) flowers opening in succession on single branching stems in late spring to summer.
H to 30cm
Found in coastal wet heathlands in Tas, SA, Vic, NSW, QLD
Xanthosia dissecta
(Cut Leafed Xanthosia)
Small tufted herb with irregular compound leaves and very small white flowers in spring.
H 10cm
Found in wet heathlands in Tas, SA Vic, NSW
Xyris operculata
(Yellow Eye)
Small rush with fine grass like glossy brown leaves and small bright yellow flowers with three petals on several flowering stems in summer.
H 30-60cm W 0.5m
Wet peaty soils in heathlands Tas, SA, Vic, NSW
Fauna in The Heathland Reserve
Heathlands provide habitat for many Native species, including Native mice and rats, Antechinus, Long-Nosed Potoroo, Tasmanian Scrub-Wren, Tasmanian Thornbill, Crescent Honeyeater, Eastern Spinebill, Dusky Robin, Green Rosella, many species of frogs, lizards, snakes and insects including butterflies and native pollinators.
Some animals found in The Heathland Reserve are:
- Latham’s Snipe (threatened)
- Superb Fairy-Wren
- Grey Shike-Thrush
- Grey Fantail
- Brown Thornbill
- Yellow Throated Honeyeater
- New Holland Honeyeater
- Flame Robin
- Southern Brown Bandicoot
- Eastern Barred Bandicoot (vulnerable)
- Rufous Wallaby (Pademelon)
- Tasmanian Froglet
- Common Froglet
- Tasmanian Tree Skink
- Metallic Cool-Skink
