Snape Reserve

Snape Reserve^[1] ^[2] ^[3] is a 750-hectare private conservation property managed by Trust for Nature in western Victoria, Australia. It is located near the town of Dimboola and borders the Little Desert National Park.

History

The property was previously used for agricultural purposes.^[4] The reserve was purchased in 2002 and named in honour of Brian and Diana Snape, the former of whom served as Chairman of Trust for Nature for a decade. Following its acquisition by Trust for Nature, the land was destocked, and natural regeneration commenced across much of the landscape. Supplementary revegetation efforts have also been undertaken in certain areas to support native plant recovery and biodiversity enhancement.

Ecology

Snape Reserve is notable for its exceptional ecological diversity, supporting at least 12 distinct Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs)—a number significantly higher than the three EVCs present in the adjoining area of Little Desert National Park.^[4] The EVCs identified at the reserve include:

Cypress-pine Woodland

Black Box Woodland

Northern Plains Grassy Woodland

Red Gum Woodland

Herb-rich Woodland

Stringybark Heathy Woodland

Banksia Heath

Mallee Woodland

Willow Wattle Rises

Ephemeral Swamps

Visitors to the reserve can observe subtle changes in soil composition that help define transitions between vegetation communities, including areas rich in gypsum and ephemeral wetland features.

Snape Reserve hosts a wide range of native bird species, attracting interest from field naturalists and birdwatchers.^[4] Commonly observed birds include:

Mistletoe Bird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)

Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata)

Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)

Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)

Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata)

A highlight for many visitors is the Southern Scrub-robin (Drymodes brunneopygia), a species typically difficult to observe in other regions.

Snape Reserve provides valuable habitat for the endangered South-eastern Red-tailed Black Cockatoo. Through Biodiversity Response Planning, Greening Australia is working to establish 30,000 Stringybark trees across 500 hectares – an important food source for the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.^[5]

The invertebrate population is also of ecological interest. Jewel beetles have been recorded among the Heath Tea-tree (Leptospermum myrtifolium), and complex ant behaviours have been documented, including nest construction with high earthen mounds and the apparent collection of Guinea-flower petals and grass seeds.

Mistletoe and Buloke

The parasitic mistletoe observed growing on Buloke trees (Allocasuarina luehmannii) blends seamlessly with the host's drooping branchlets. The mistletoe can be distinguished by its erect cylindrical leaves and a visible lump at the point of attachment.

Conservation Significance

The high number of EVCs and the presence of rare or threatened species highlight Snape Reserve as a conservation hotspot. Ongoing management by Trust for Nature and naturalist groups^[6] aims to preserve and study the site's biodiversity.

References

^ "Annual Snape Reserve plantout at Dimboola." (2024, June 5). *The Weekly Advertiser*. Available at: https://theweeklyadvertiser.com.au/articles/annual-snape-reserve-plantout-at-dimboola/ (accessed 15 June 2025).
^ "Snape Reserve: Trust For Nature Reserve." (2025). *Trust for Nature*. Available at: https://trustfornature.org.au/reserves/snape-reserve/ (accessed 15 June 2025).
^ "Snape Reserve." *Hindmarsh Shire Council*. Available at: https://www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/Visit-Hindmarsh/Explore-our-Great-Outdoors/National-Parks-and-Reserves (accessed 15 June 2025).
^ ^a ^b ^c "Excursion to Snape Reserve." (2004, November 1). *South East Australian Naturalist Association (SEANA)*. Available at: https://seana.org.au/excursion-to-snape-reserve/ (accessed 15 June 2025).
^ "Restoring Habitat for South-Eastern Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoos in Victoria." (2020). *Greening Australia*. Available at: https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/projects/20milliontrees-se-redtailed-blackcockatoos-vic/ (accessed 15 June 2025).
^ "Snape Reserve planting day on Saturday." *Dimboola Courier*. Available at: https://www.dimboolacourier.com.au/news.php?newsid=6176 (accessed 15 June 2025).

36°27′09″S 141°59′01″E / 36.452611°S 141.983694°E / -36.452611; 141.983694

External links

[1] "Annual Snape Reserve plantout at Dimboola." (2024, June 5). *The Weekly Advertiser*. Available at: https://theweeklyadvertiser.com.au/articles/annual-snape-reserve-plantout-at-dimboola/ (accessed 15 June 2025).

[2] "Snape Reserve: Trust For Nature Reserve." (2025). *Trust for Nature*. Available at: https://trustfornature.org.au/reserves/snape-reserve/ (accessed 15 June 2025).

[3] "Snape Reserve." *Hindmarsh Shire Council*. Available at: https://www.hindmarsh.vic.gov.au/Visit-Hindmarsh/Explore-our-Great-Outdoors/National-Parks-and-Reserves (accessed 15 June 2025).

[auto-4] "Excursion to Snape Reserve." (2004, November 1). *South East Australian Naturalist Association (SEANA)*. Available at: https://seana.org.au/excursion-to-snape-reserve/ (accessed 15 June 2025).

[5] "Restoring Habitat for South-Eastern Red-Tailed Black-Cockatoos in Victoria." (2020). *Greening Australia*. Available at: https://www.greeningaustralia.org.au/projects/20milliontrees-se-redtailed-blackcockatoos-vic/ (accessed 15 June 2025).

[6] "Snape Reserve planting day on Saturday." *Dimboola Courier*. Available at: https://www.dimboolacourier.com.au/news.php?newsid=6176 (accessed 15 June 2025).

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]