A Short History of Greening Bathurst
Three Decades of Greening our Region
During the Decade of Landcare 1990 to 2000, land use and environmental issues in the Bathurst region gained a higher profile. The former Evans Shire Council partnered with rural community groups and volunteers, state and federal agencies to support Landcare, Bushcare and Rivercare groups across many water catchments in the Bathurst region with on ground projects such as fencing, river and tree corridors, farm dams, tree nurseries, soil erosion and vegetation management.
In 2000 Greening Bathurst was formed from the original Macquarie Rivercare group and a range of other environmental groups in response to a request from Bathurst City Council for a unified voice for environmental issues.
Greening Bathurst began with a focus on the Bathurst Macquarie River corridor and flood plain restoration. GB volunteers successfully lobbied and worked with BCC Councillors for projects such as riparian native plantings from the Railway bridge to the Eglinton bridge and beyond.
The two key flood plain projects initiated by GB members and Councillors are the Bi-Centennial River Park and walking track from the old Denison bridge to the George St bridge and the St Pats Wetland.
In 2007 Greening Bathurst, Bathurst Regional Council, Charles Sturt University and a range of community conservation groups held a conference on Managing Landscapes for Climate Change which began to change the focus from the old conservation and weed poisoning paradigm to referencing climate science in the restoration of water cycles and regenerative land management.
After the amalgamation of the Evans Shire Council and the Bathurst City Council Greening Bathurst went on to successfully work with the Bathurst Regional Council and Councillors with the implementation of the Vegetation Management Plan which included the improved management of our Box Gum Grassy Woodland remnants, including Wahluu/Mt Panorama, the Boundary Road Landcare reserve and the Brooke Moore Reserve. This work is ongoing and needs more support.
The Urban Waterways Management Plan began the process of restoring Sawpit, Charlottes Vale, Jordan, Hawthornden, and Raglan Creeks. This work is ongoing and also needs much more support.
Greening Bathurst also initiated and supported major regional projects such as the Cox’s Road Dreaming project, Rahamim Ecological Learning Centre, Skillset Land Works, the Biodiversity Dreaming Conference, Our Farming Future Conference, and a wide range of media, promotions and community events.
In March 2024 Greening Bathurst organised and held a successful Tree Conference which is detailed on other pages of this website.
John A Fry December 2023.
A Brief History of Bathurst Vegetation
The landscape of the region had been actively managed by the indigenous Wiradjuri people for millennia before European settlement. The people understood the landscape and its vegetation and many plants were used as resources to sustain a successful and vibrant culture.
Although detailed descriptions of the vegetation of the region at the time of European settlement are sketchy, it is generally accepted to have been dominated by Grasslands and Woodlands with widely spaced trees of mixed ages. Shrubs were sparse, although more prevalent in moist areas. Grasses and herbs were very prominent with a great diversity of species.
The settlement at the current site of Bathurst was established in 1815. Land clearance for grazing and agriculture and timber harvesting for cooking, construction and mining rapidly brought about dramatic changes to the landscape and vegetation of the region. In the early days of the settlement, the limited availability of water restricted horticulture largely to market gardening and cropping on the river flats, but as the region became more affluent, ornamental horticulture and particularly the introduction of European trees became popular, to make the landscape look more familiar to the new migrants.
The population grew rapidly through the later half of the nineteenth century, on the back of successful wool production on the river flats and to a range of mining activities throughout the region. Bathurst Council commenced its tree planting program in 1871 and in 1886 it became the first country town with a piped water supply. So began the development of urban gardens and public parklands for recreational use.
The twentieth century saw land subdivision in Bathurst and the surrounding villages, and across the rural landscape. In rural areas, tree clearance continued on the productive lands, leaving only scattered remnants of native vegetation. By contrast, in the urban areas, native vegetation was largely replaced by a diverse range of exotic plants and has resulted in an urban forest with many more trees and shrubs than would have been present prior to non-indigenous settlement.
History of the Wiradjuri
The Wiradjuri people are the people of the three rivers - the Wambool (Macquarie), the Calare (Lachlan) and the Murrumbidgee. They have lived in these lands and along these rivers for more than 40,000 years. The Bathurst Wiradjuri were the most easterly grouping of the Wiradjuri nation. Their totem is the goanna. They fished from canoes and hunted with spears and nets for duck, kangaroo, goannas, snakes, lizards, emus, possums, wallabies and waterfowl. Their food supply also included various plants, roots and vegetables.
The Wiradjuri made periodic journeys throughout this well-watered country around the Wambool River. They travelled for trade and to perform ceremonies to honour their ancestors, their dreaming, and their relationships with the land. The Wiradjuri lands were signposted with carved trees which marked burial grounds. Carved trees have been found at the junction of the Macquarie and Campbell Rivers at O'Connell. Bora rings were located on key sites like Wahluu (Mount Panorama) where initiations and other important ceremonies were held. The Wiradjuri shaped their landscape through controlled burning to encourage animals to relocate into cleared grassland for better hunting.
Story of Wahluu
"Two brothers, Gaanhabula and Wahluu were attracted to the same migay (girl). Gaanhabula suggested a spear throwing contest to see who would win the girl for his wife. When Wahluu's throw hit the target, Gaanhabula was so full of rage that he picked up his bundhi (club with a thick knob at its end) and cracked his brother in the back of the head. Wahluu fell to the ground and when he died all the blood came pouring out of his head and all over the Earth. This made the Gundyarri (spirits) angry and they made the ground erupt and lava poured out over Wahluu's body so what you see today is the shape of Wahluu's body lying on his side."
- as told by Wiradyuri Elder Dinawan Dyirribang.