Oakey Hill (Canberra) facts for kids

Oakey Hill is a cool hill near Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It stands about 80 metres taller than the nearby suburbs of Lyons, Curtin, and Weston. This hill covers 66 hectares (about 163 acres) and is part of the Canberra Nature Reserve. The very top of Oakey Hill is 684 metres above sea level. You can find a special marker there!

The hill probably got its name from the many she-oak trees growing there. These trees, also called casuarinas, are mostly found on the eastern side of the hill.

About half of Oakey Hill is open grassland. It has a mix of native Australian grasses and some grasses from other countries. The other half is bushland with native eucalypt trees. You can see trees like the yellow box and Blakely’s red gum here.

Oakey Hill has many walking paths that go around and across it. These paths are great for people who love to walk. Sometimes, you might also see cyclists or horse riders enjoying the trails. The walks are usually easy, but some parts can be a bit steep. From the top, you get amazing views! You can see Red Hill and Isaacs Ridge to the east. To the north, you can spot Scrivener Dam and Mt Painter. Look northeast to see the Captain Cook memorial water jet, Mount Ainslie, and Mount Majura. To the west, you'll see Cooleman Ridge and the beautiful Brindabellas.

A Look Back: Oakey Hill's History

For many years, the land around Oakey Hill was home to the Ngunnawal Aboriginal people. They were the first people to live in this northern Canberra region. Later, when Europeans arrived, Oakey Hill was used for farming. Farmers would let their animals graze (eat grass) on the hill and nearby lands.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, new suburbs were built close by. Because of this, the farming leases ended. A water reservoir was built near the top of the hill. Power lines were put up on the lower parts. More recently, a mobile phone tower was also built near the reservoir.

Oakey Hill officially became part of the Canberra Nature Park in 1993.

In January 2003, big bushfires swept in from the west. About 80 percent of Oakey Hill was burned. The fire damaged many trees, but it also helped new plants grow. Many eucalypts and casuarinas grew back strongly. Now, some lower parts of the hill are covered in thick trees.

Wildlife at Oakey Hill

The grasslands and wooded areas on Oakey Hill are home to many birds. You can often see Boobook owls, kookaburras, and king quail.

The rocks and grass provide shelter for lizards and snakes. Some common sightings include brown snakes and bluetongue lizards. You might also spot native geckos, like the eastern stone gecko. A special and rare lizard, the pink-tailed worm lizard, also lives here.

If you look closely among the rocks and fallen bark, you might find scorpions and huntsman spiders. Oakey Hill also has its own group of eastern grey kangaroos. It acts like a natural pathway for animals moving through the Canberra Nature Reserve. Brush-tailed possums often visit the gardens of houses next to the hill.

Unfortunately, some animals that are not native to Australia also live here. These include red foxes, hares, and Indian Mynah birds.

Nature and Geology of Oakey Hill

Oakey Hill is long and narrow, stretching from north to south. This shape is similar to the nearby Murrumbidgee River. A low ridge connects Oakey Hill to Mt Taylor, which is 856 metres high. This ridge separates the Woden Valley from Weston Creek.

The rocks on Oakey Hill are very old. They are left over from volcano activity that happened a long, long time ago. This was during the Middle Silurian period. These rocks are part of the Deakin Volcanics. This is a series of ancient lava flows that cover much of southern Canberra. You can see examples of these volcanic rocks in the road cutting along the Tuggeranong Parkway. There are also areas of porphyry rock, which pushed into the volcanic rocks. These are also from the Middle Silurian period.

Caring for Oakey Hill

Oakey Hill has been a green reserve since the 1960s. It officially became part of the larger Canberra Nature Park in 1993.

After the 2003 Canberra bushfires, the ACT Government started a big project. They wanted to reduce fire danger on the hill. This meant removing Tasmanian blue gum trees, which are not native to the ACT. This project brought local residents together. They worked with Environment ACT rangers to find ways to help protect the hill.

A special group called a "parkcare group" was formed. At first, they followed a plan from the ACT Government. They focused on areas that were most important for nature. As the hill recovered from the fires, the group started deciding their own work. They still talk with the rangers about their plans.

The main goal of the parkcare group is to help the hill heal itself. They do this by removing plants that are not native and compete with local species. This allows the native plants to grow better. Since the bushfires, many fire-adapted plants have grown back strongly. These include casuarina trees and native black cypress pines. Native grasses like kangaroo grass and wallaby grass have also returned. Many different shrubs are now growing well too.

The parkcare group mainly works on controlling weeds. They focus on plants that are not native, such as Cootamundra wattle, Tasmanian blue gum, firethorn, cotoneaster, and briar rose. They have also planted some wildflowers, grasses, and trees. However, long periods of dry weather have made it hard to plant a lot. The group also helps fix and maintain the walking paths when the weather and materials allow.

The parkcare group started in December 2003. They hold monthly working bees on the third Sunday of each month. They usually take a break in January and February. Their hard work helps keep Oakey Hill a beautiful place for everyone.

• Map of Oakey Hill [1]