Bridport Wildflower Reserve

Introduction
Bridport Wildflower Reserve is part of Granite Point Conservation Area. The reserve includes a number of threatened species which are locally common in the reserve.

Walking - A 2.2 kilometre hard surfave track runs through the reserve, passing through a variety of vegetation communities. At the northern end of the track, another track leads to Adams Beach.

Horse-riding – permits to ride from Walter Street on the track to Adams Beach are available from the Bridport Parks and Wildlife Service office

Dog exercising area – dogs are permitted along the walking track provided they are kept on a lead at all times. On Adams Beach, dogs are allowed off the leash to be exercised as far as the river outlet.

People
Tasmanian Aboriginal people used the rich resources of the coastal area for thousands of years before European settlement. They used fire as a tool to encourage new growth and attract game – the coastal heathland vegetation protected in the Reserve is almost unchanged from the landscape that generations of Aboriginal Tasmanians have known.

In 1833 land grants were made to the first pastoralists, who probably used the Reserve area as a rough grazing run. The first settlers also burned the heath and woodland vegetation to promote ‘green pick’ for their stock.

Running postman

Waxlip orchid

Wedding bush

Juniper wattle

Plants and animals
The flower reserve is a very special place boasting one of the best displays of heath flowers in spring. Some 180 vascular plant species grow here in very distinct vegetation communities. Consequently they have high conservation values, with three of the vegetation communities considered endangered and four vulnerable.

Among the threatened species that are found within the reserve is the Juniper wattle (Acacia ulicifolia).

Over many years amateur naturalists have collected information that has so far identified 14 species of native mammals, 7 frogs, more than 3 reptiles and 49 bird species.

Among these are 4 threatened species including the eastern barred bandicoot, spotted-tail quoll, wedge-tailed eagle and green and gold bell frog.

Rocks and soil
The rocks of the Reserve are the same Devonian granites that occur from Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, through the Furneaux Islands and down Tasmania's East Coast.

Overlaying the granite are younger sands. They formed part of an extensive desert dune-complex which covered the north-east and the Bass Strait when the climate was much colder and drier. This was at the height of the last glaciation about 20,000 years ago when Tasmania was connected to the mainland. Although the soils are nutrient poor, a great diversity of plants manage to survive.