Nyalar Mirunganah Nature Refuge

Nyalar Mirungan-ah Nature Refuge

Nyalar Mirungan-ah Nature Refuge is a declared conservation area under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992, located in North Branch valley in the western foothills of the Dividing Range near Cunningham's Gap in southern Queensland, Australia.

The country is typical east coast Australian mountain country with hills covered in Gum trees and grassland which varies from green to brown depending on the season. The valley supports several grazing and cropping properties as well as three registered Nature Refuges. Just three kilometres further up the valley, there is Main Range National Park, a World Heritage area.

Ecology
The property itself is a mix of grassy woodland, wetter riparian areas and ferny gullies supporting populations of   rainforest verge species. Some of the property is classed as Box Gum Grassy Woodlands which is listed nationally as an endangered ecological community because much of the original woodland has been cleared for cultivation or grazing. The normally-flowing North Branch Creek flows through the property. Walking tracks along the creek reveal a wealth of beauty and lead to a deep waterhole surrounded by rocky outcrops.

Wildlife
Large populations of Red-necked wallabies and Eastern Grey kangaroos roam the grasslands along with numerous other species of mammal, lizards, birds etc. At least 300 species of Australian plants occur on the property of which  about 100 are of known traditional use by Aboriginal people for food, medicine, fibre etc.
Professional surveying has identified the following wildlife:
Reptiles            10 species
Frogs                 9 species
Mammals        23 species
Birds                73 species

Some photos from the property can be seen below.

For a complete list of the plants and animals found so far on the property, click on the specific file names below.
For a list of plants and their Aboriginal use, upload the file below.

Australian plants have many potential uses including:
Food crops
Pharmacological use for numerous ailments
Traditional Aboriginal use as food and medicine
Habitat for birds and other fauna
Cut flowers and beauty
Recreational therapy

*Experiments with traditional Aboriginal burning techniques
*Dramatic changes in creek and banks when grazing ceased
*Re-emergence of previously absent plants after removal of stock
*Soil erosion and restoration experiments