Bidjigal Reserve facts for kids

The Bidjigal Reserve is a special nature area in New South Wales, Australia. It covers about 186 hectares, which is a very large space! Most of this reserve is located in The Hills Shire. A smaller part of it is in the City of Parramatta, south of the M2 Motorway. You can find the reserve near suburbs like North Rocks, Northmead, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, West Pennant Hills, and Carlingford. It's a fantastic place to explore nature and learn about history.

Why is it called Bidjigal Reserve?

The reserve gets its name from the Bidjigal people. They were the Aboriginal people who lived in this area for thousands of years. It's believed that Pemulwuy, a famous Bidjigal leader, used this land. He was known for leading resistance against the early British settlers. The reserve also includes a long part of Darling Mills Creek. This creek flows into the Parramatta River. It was once a very important source of water for both people and mills in Parramatta.

What can you see and do there?

The Bidjigal Reserve has many different walking trails. You can find short paths for quick strolls or longer trails that go for several kilometres. Some of these trails even connect to the famous Great North Walk.

Plants and Animals

The reserve is home to a wide variety of native plants and animals. It has many different types of trees and plants. You can see tall Blue Gum trees and woodlands on the ridges. Most of the reserve has dry forest growing on sandstone soil. Look closely, and you might spot interesting plants like the Native Iris (Patersonia glabrata). You might also find Native Grape (Cissus hypoglauca) or the Red Beard Orchid (Calochilus paludosus).

In recent years, people have seen many amazing animals here. These include koalas, swamp wallabys, echidnas, and eastern water dragons. You might even spot sugar gliders gliding through the trees! Of course, you'll also see the common brushtail and ringtail possums. Keep an eye out for the large and impressive Powerful owl, too! Thanks to efforts to control foxes, the number of native animals in the reserve has grown a lot.

Aboriginal History

The reserve holds important historical sites. One well-known spot is a rock shelter, often called the Aboriginal Cave. Early European settlers described this cave as being used by the Bidjigal people. There are other Aboriginal rock shelters in the reserve as well. One of these sites is very old, dating back over 10,000 years! This makes it the earliest known human home in the Sydney area. While some Aboriginal art like hand stencils and rock engravings have been reported, they are hard to find today.

How the Reserve is Managed

History of the Reserve

The Bidjigal Reserve was created through an important agreement. On 15 September 2001, the Government of New South Wales and the Baulkham Hills Shire Council made a deal. They worked with the descendants of the Darug people. This agreement helped settle a long-standing claim about native title to the land.

The Darling Mills State Forest and most of Excelsior Park were combined. They officially became the Bidjigal Reserve on 4 December 2003. This was a big step to protect the land. The New South Wales government passed a law in 2005 to make sure this land could be part of the reserve.

The Bidjigal Reserve was officially set aside on 22 October 2004. Its main purposes are to protect Aboriginal cultural heritage, save native plants and animals, and provide a place for public recreation.

Who Looks After It?

The Bidjigal Reserve is owned by the Bidjigal Reserve Trust. A group called the Bidjigal Reserve Trust Board manages the reserve. The first Board meeting was held on 4 March 2005. This Board includes both Darug descendants and local residents. It also has representatives from local councils and conservation groups. This team works together to make sure the reserve is well looked after for everyone.