The Nature Conservation Trust recently purchased Hartwood Station, a 6768 hectare property situated east of Conargo, within close proximity of Deniliquin in the Riverina of New South Wales.
The property was purchased due to a significant list of conservation values, including:
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The presence of two Endangered Ecological Communities listed under the TSC Act (NSW) 1995
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225 hectares of mapped Plains Wanderer Habitat, which is a threatened species under both the TSC Act and the EPBC Act
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The possible presence of a new population (previously unrecorded) of Common Wombat
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The presence of a threatened flora species
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Three threatened fauna species
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A homestead and gardens of heritage significance
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Evidence of Aboriginal habitation including a scar tree
The most outstanding feature is the presence of elements of two endangered ecological communities:
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Myall Woodland in the Darling Riverine Plains, Brigalow Belt South, Cobar Peneplain, Murray-Darling Depression, Riverina and NSW South Western Slopes bioregions
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Allocasuarina leuhmannii Woodland in the Riverina and Murray-Darling Depression bioregions
Additionally, there is significant indication on the property of the presence of the threatened Slender Darling-Pea (Swiansona murrayana), which is listed as vulnerable under both state and federal legislation, and wombat holes in sandhills in the north east corner of Hartwood indicate the presence of a previously unknown population of Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus).
Hartwood Station not only boasts natural areas of significance but also possessed rich Indigenous and colonial heritage values. Hartwood Station was originally a large pastoral holding established during the late 1800's and there are many buildings on the property including the original 'Hartwood Station' homestead. The heritage homestead comprises of four buildings situated around a central courtyard. The original building is of pise construction from the mid to late 1800's and features 11 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and an office. The three other buildings are brick and appear to have been built during the early 1900's. The homestead is set in extensive gardens of great historical importance having been designed by Baron Sir Ferdinand Von Mueller, who later became the director of the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens.
The purchase of Hartwood Station allows us to not only protect the biodiversity of the property but also to preserve the property's important history.
