Augusta’s Donovan Street bushland wins interpretation funding

Lotterywest funding will help establish a permanent interpretation station in Augusta’s prized Donovan Street bushland. Often described as “Augusta’s Kings Park,” the 85ha bushland on unoccupied Crown land was subject to fierce community debate in decades past amid fears about development and management, despite being a drawcard attraction for wildflower lovers. Augusta Community Development Association chairman Chris Collins said he and the Environmental Research Group Augusta were very pleased to confirm the funding. The $11,350 would be used to build a roofed wooden structure hosting interpretive signs and a display. The reserve borders the Hardy Inlet and is home to 300 species, including seven species of mammals, 200 variety of fungi and 47 species of orchids. “As one of the several interpretation centres planned to showcase Augusta’s natural beauty, history and heritage, it will be located at the entrance to the bushland on the shire reserve at the end of Victoria Parade,” Mr Collins said. “The small wooden structure will house several posters detailing the bushland’s rich biodiversity, its vertebrate animals, including birds, its flowering plants and fungi, as well as a map showing where you may see some of it. “Bird lovers will be provided with pamphlets listing all species recorded so far in the area.” Mr Collins said the reserve was a valued local attraction. “We’re fortunate in Augusta in having a heritage town located in such a biodiversity ‘hot spot’,” he said. “It needs our protection if it is to be enjoyed by future generations. “The large granite, known locally as Flat Rock, is unique in the South West, having the highest number of plant species of any granite outcrop in WA. “Most are just tiny species that live in the thin layer of topsoil. For this reason, we urge visitors to tread carefully.” More environmental details about the reserve were captured in Professor Don Bradshaw’s book Augusta’s Kings Park published in 2018.