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Mangroves
at the Oxley Creek estuary
Hoop
pine
Paper
bark forest
Melaleuca
at
Nosworthy Park
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The
vegetation that fringes Oxley Creek as we see it today is a
remnant of what grew there over 150 years ago. Historical
records tell us that much of the creekside vegetation was
once a rich mosaic and supported many types of animals.
Early explorers reported mangroves in the river no further
upstream than Breakfast Creek. The mangroves were known in
the creek in the 1930s and upstream in the Brisbane River
(although not thick in the river). The lower section of
Oxley Creek is tidal and mangroves grow thickly there
now.
In
its middle to lower reaches riverine or vine forest was once
the dominant vegetation on the creek banks with 'dry'
rainforest on the well drained flood plains. In poorer soils
a mixture of Eucalypt and wetland community species
grew.
Eucalypt
forest remains the main vegetation type in the middle to
upper catchment, particularly in the poorer soil and fire
prone areas. Pockets of heathland persist in sandy soils
beside the creek at Willawong and Pallara.
The
flora of the catchment that we see today is a reminder of
the vegetation that existed before urbanisation. Oxley Creek
Catchment contains a number of significant natural areas.
These pockets that remain are valuable reminders of the past
and provide some habitat to the birds and animals of the
region:
Bushland
in the Greenbank Military Area/Parkinson region
which links to the bushland areas of Karawatha
to the east, and Flinders Peak to the west,
supports more mammal species than other
catchments in the Brisbane City. It is a core
conservation area for koalas in southeast
Queensland.
Vegetated
slopes in the upper catchment.
Naturally
formed freshwater lagoons and wetlands in the
upper catchment.
Remnants
of rainforest along the creek banks.
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Trees
and plants
Early explorers John Oxley (1823) and Charles Fraser (1828)
noted the following tree species:
Hoop Pine (Aucacaria cunninghamii) (100-140 feet high
and used for ships masts)
Blue Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
Sydney Peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita)
Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodara) red, grey and black
gums also logged here.
Ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra)
Banksias (Banksia compar and integrifolia)
Brush Box (Tristania robusta)
Wattle (Acacia melanoxylon - black wattle)
Forest Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa)
Tea Tree (Melalauca linarifolia)
Many of these species exist today as well as other common
species:
Silky oak (Grevillea robusta)
Black bean (Castanospermun australe)
Tulipwood (Harpullia australe)
Crows ash ( Flindersia australis)
Tallowood (Eucalyptus microcorys)
Lillipillies (Eugenia spp)
River Oaks (Casuarina cunninghamii)
Red Ash (Alphitonia excelsa) and several other
species of Melaleuca.
The endangered Angle-stemmed Myrtle (Austromyrtus
gonoclada) thought to be extinct in the catchment
was discovered in Nosworthy Park in the early 1990's along
with four others along the creek.
More information on the many plant species found in the
catchment can be obtained from Greening Australia (Ph: 07
3844 0211 Fax: 07 3844 0727).
Brisbane City Council has published lists of native trees
common to individual Brisbane suburbs. Relevant to the Oxley
Creek catchment are the suburbs of Graceville, Oxley,
Sherwood, Rocklea. Available from Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Ph: 07 3403 2531 or Fax: 07 3403 2552 or local council
offices.
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Green
Tree Frog
Lace
Monitor
Bearded
dragon
Fruit
Bats
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Local
people tell of fauna that abounded in the catchment from
early in the century to the mid thirties.
Green
Tree Frogs were very common, and children caught tadpoles in
the creek. Penny tortoises and yabbies were found in the
waterholes. Crabs, perch, eels and flathead were plentiful.
Large schools of mullet spawned in the creek during May.
Small
birds such as 'chippies' (pardelotes) and kingfishers were
common, as were large flocks of swallows that were reported
on the eastern side of the creek across from Nosworthy Park.
Zebra, double barr and nutmeg finches were trapped by small
boys, not something you would do today as our scarce and
much treasured wildlife is now protected.
The
Greenbank/Parkinson region is home to five of the six
species of gliding possums, namely yellow-bellied glider,
greater glider, squirrel glider, sugar glider and the
feathertail glider. The flying foxes (fruit bats) and
insectiverous bats, frilled neck lizard, water dragon,
platypus, echidna and koala are all found in the catchment.
Kangaroos and wallabies also exist. The glossy black
cockatoo and powerful owl occur in the catchment and are
considered 'vulnerable'. The sooty owl and the green thighed
frog are known to inhabit the catchment and are listed as
'rare'.
A
healthy
bird population (over 100 species) is now thriving in
some areas of the catchment. This is assisted by
revegetation projects along the creek and home owners who
plant native trees in their gardens.
Feral
animals such a foxes, cats and dogs roam the vegetated
parts of the catchment and prey on native animals and birds.
A small numner of hares damage vegetation by chewing the
trunks of young trees. However probably the greatest threat
to fauna survival is habitat loss, which occurs when
vegetation is cleared for housing amd
industry.
Common
animals in the catchment:
Grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
Red necked wallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus)
Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Bats (18 species)
Water dragon (Physignathus leseurii)
Bearded dragon (Pogona barbata)
Animals
with a restricted distribution
Whiptail wallaby (Macropus parryi)
Yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis)
Egrets and other waterbirds of the wetlands
Koala
(Phascolarctos cinereus)
Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
Frilled neck lizard (Chlamydosaurus kingii)
Vulnerable
and rare animals of the catchment
Glossy black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)
Wallum froglet (Crinnia tinnula)
Green-thighed frog (Litoria brevipalmata)
Black-necked stork (Ephippiorhychus asiaticus)
Sooty
owl (Tyto tnebricosa)
Powerful owl (Ninox strenua)
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