| Photographs: | None |
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| List: | Register of the National Estate |
| Class: | Natural |
| Legal Status: | Registered (24/09/2002) |
| Place ID: | 102211 |
| Place File No: | 1/14/029/0034 |
| Statement of Significance: |
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Orchard Hills is almost entirely vegetated with remnants and regenerating areas of Cumberland Plain Woodland and Sydney Coastal River Flat Forest. Cumberland Plain Woodland is listed as an endangered ecological community at both State and Commonwealth level. At State level, Sydney Coastal River Flat Forest is regarded as an endangered ecological community that is under represented in reserves. Orchard Hills is regarded as a core biodiversity area for conservation of both these communities. The place comprises the least disturbed and largest remaining remnant of Cumberland Plain Woodland. The size of the Orchard Hills remnant provides a comparatively large area of continuous habitat for species likely to be excluded from small and isolated remnants, particularly the Cumberland Plain Woodland bird community. Mature tree heights at Orchard Hills reach 50 metres and include some of the most outstanding examples of Forest Red gum trees remaining in western Sydney. The tributaries of Blaxland Creek at Orchard Hills are among the least disturbed catchments remaining on the Cumberland Plain and on Wianamatta Shale in western Sydney. Blaxland Creek tributaries are richer in aquatic macro-invertebrate genera than most other creeks in western Sydney. The macro-invertebrate community of this catchment has a high representation of disturbance-sensitive species. Stoneflies, LEPTOPHLEBIID mayflies and pollution-sensitive families of caddisflies appear to be confined to such streams within the Cumberland Plain. Orchard Hills therefore acts as a refuge and reservoir of regional conservation significance for such species that are dependant on low levels of agricultural and urban development. The bush thickknee (BURHINUS GRALLARIUS), a rare bird, is listed as endangered in NSW and is regarded as a species of the greatest conservation concern in the Cumberland region. It has been recorded at Orchard Hills. Orchard Hills has one plant listed as vulnerable in NSW, prickly spider-flower (GREVILLEA JUNIPERINA). Six other plant species are found in the place which are regarded as being of regional conservation significance. These are spreading bush-pea (PULTENAEA MICROPHYLLA), fuzzweed (VITTADINIA PUSTULATA), water-milfoil (MYRIOPHYLLUM SIMULANS), dwarf skull-cap (SCUTELLARIA HUMILIS), early nancy (WURMBEA BIGLANDULOSA) and the grass PANICUM OBSEPTUM. An additional 32 plant species are found at Orchard Hills which are regarded as inadequately conserved in western Sydney. The low level of disturbance in the tributaries of Blaxland Creek within Orchard Hills provide a valuable benchmark to measure the degradation of creek systems generally in western Sydney. The absence of fire at Orchard Hills for approximately 50 years provides an opportunity for ecological research on regenerating Cumberland Plain Woodland. The Orchard Hills Defence site is associated with the Mulgoa Irrigation Scheme established in 1890 by the Chaffey Brothers. At Orchard Hills there are remnants of the irrigation canal, and possible remains of the tunnel under Bringelly (now Northern) Road. The scheme was designed to pump water from the Nepean River and potentially irrigate extensive areas of land towards St Mary's. Stopped by the financial depression of the 1890s the remnants of the distribution canal are evidence of the importance of this area, and of the expansion of irrigation, in the late nineteenth century in NSW. (Australian Historic Themes: 3.11 Altering the environment). It is possible that other historic national estate values may exist on this defence site. As yet these values have not been identified or assessed. |
| Official Values: Not Available |
| Description: |
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History: The Mulgoa area was taken up as grants from 1810. Early grants in the area of Orchard Hills included those to Gregory Blaxland, John Wood, John Piper, William Cox, Thomas Jamison, George Panton, John Smith, Simeon Lord and William Shelly. Whilst the area was successful in colonial terms, with Gregory Blaxland awarded the gold Ceres medal for his wine in 1828, it was not until the arrival of the railway at Penrith in 1862 that the use of the area intensified through subdivision. In 1890 Mulgoa became the centre of a large and ambitious irrigation scheme as a result of an Act passed in December 1890, to empower the Chaffey Brothers to establish irrigation in the Police District of Penrith. The promoters of the scheme planned to pump water from the Nepean River to Mulgoa where a 4,000,000 gallon reservoir was to be constructed. From this point a 12 mile contour canal was designed to run as far as St Mary's. A dam and pumping station to take water from the Nepean River was constructed and the canal run through tunnels under the Northern Road (Bringelly Road) towards St Mary's, through Orchard Hills. The Mulgoa Irrigation Company resulted in the establishment of Mulgoa Township. Although the scheme was almost completed the Depression of 1893 resulted in its demise. Contemporary (1890) maps of the area show that the subject land was almost wholly intended for irrigation. The Orchard Hills district owes its name to the establishment of orchards in the late nineteenth century in association with the railway corridor through the Cumberland Plain to Penrith. Orchard Hills is currently maintained as No.1 Central Ammunition Depot, established in 1945 as a storage facility. In 1956, development of the site for its current use as housing for Naval and Air Force personnel commenced. No detailed inspection of the No 1 Central Ammunition Depot has been made for historic national estate values. Orchard Hills appears to retain little evidence of nineteenth century use with the exception of remnant fence lines, the footings of some housing and evidence of the Chaffey Brothers irrigation scheme. The latter can be seen in the south-west corner of the site where the main canal contours across the hillside below Northern (Bringelly) Road on Parish Portions 9 and 17 in the Parish of Claremont. The course of the 50 inch canal can be clearly seen on air photos of the area. Although unexamined, the tunnels under Bringelly Road may also be intact. Physical Description: Orchard Hill Cumberland Plain Woodland consists of a large area of remnant and revegetating woodland south of Penrith. Most of the south and east of the site falls within the catchment of Blaxland Creek, whereas the north-western corner drains into Claremont Creek. The north-east corner of the site consists of sparse to thickly regenerating woodland overtopped in many places by a remnant mature woodland overstorey. This becomes sparse to the west and south, where small remnants and regenerating patches occur in largely cleared grasslands with a mixture of native and introduced species. Grey box woodland covers most of the site, and is dominated by grey box (EUCALYPTUS MOLUCCANA) and forest red gum (EUCALYPTUS TERETICORNUS). The understorey consists of a medium to dense grassy understorey of species including kangaroo grass (THEMEDA AUSTRALIS), kidney weed (DICHONDRA REPENS), blue yam (BRUNONIELLA PUMILIO), cloak-fern (CHEILANTHES SIEBERI), woollybutt (ERAGROSTIS BROWNII), wire-grass (ARISTIDA VAGANS) and wallaby grass (DANTHONIA TENUIOR). In many places, a strong medium shrub layer has developed, dominated by species such as native box-thorn (BURSARIA SPINOSA), hickory (ACACIA IMPLEXA), Sydney green wattle (ACACIA PARRAMATTENSIS), native cherry (EXOCARPOS CUPRESSIFORMIS), and parrot-pea (DILLWYNIA SIEBERI). In lower lying areas, the grey bow woodland gives way to river-flat forest. This is dominated by cabbage gum (EUCALYPTUS AMPLIFOLIA) and broad-leaved apple (ANGOPHORA SUBVELUTINA), but locally she-oak (CASUARINA GLAUCA) and paperbark (MELALEUCA LINARIIFOLIA) form a closed canopy along some of the less disturbed tributaries and wetlands. The shrub layer consists of similar species to that of grey box woodland. Common ground layer species in sheltered , moist sites include tufted hedgehog grass (ECHINOPOGON OVATUS), common maidenhair fern (ADIANTUM AETHIOPICUM), brooklime (GRATIOLA PEDUNCULATA), small rasp-fern (DOODIA CAUDATA), spiny-headed mat-rush (LOMANDRA LONGIFOLIA), common rush (JUNCUS USITATUS) and dwarf skullcap (SCUTELLARIA HUMILIS). Orchard Hills has not been comprehensively surveyed for flora or fauna. Surveys conducted for the Urban Bushland Biodiversity Survey identified 167 plant species. The results of fauna surveys from this study are not available, however 69 bird species, five mammal species, four frogs and two reptiles have been recorded from the area around Orchard Hills including the common brush-tailed possum (TRICHOSURUS VULPECULA), sugar glider (PETAURUS BREVICEPS), swamp wallaby (WALLABIA BICOLOR), double-barred FINCH (TAENIOPYGIA BICHENOVII), red-browed firetail (NEOCHMIA TEMPORALIS), eastern water skink (EULAMPRUS QUOYII) and the common eastern froglet (CRINIA SIGNIFERA). Suitable habitat exists for a wide array of other fauna given the disturbance and fire history, notably frogs and reptiles. |
| History: Not Available |
| Condition and Integrity: |
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No site inspection has been carried out to ascertain the condition, integrity and extent of the canal or other possible 19th Century remnants, however the absence of fire has allowed the survival of cultural features such as extremely long stretches of post and rail fences around former homestead sites. Site inspection of Orchard Hills indicates a long history of disturbance in various parts of the site, including selective timber harvesting for posts and poles and clearance for agriculture. Fire has been excluded from the site for over 50 years due to security of the munitions dump. Most of the site has remnant mature and over mature woodland trees. In the more open areas these occur as individuals or in small stands skirted by dense regeneration of trees and shrub species and surrounded by a mix of native and introduced pasture. The densest and least disturbed part of the site appears to have a comparatively undisturbed woodland canopy, with strong secondary sapling and shrub growth, presumably as a result of the fire regime. Examinations of the margins of the site on 1965 air photos reveal two age-classes of woodland regeneration at that time, and field inspection indicates that a third wave of regeneration may have began 20 years ago. It is speculated that this last wave was driven by germination and survival of tree seedlings during a period of destocking during the 1982/83 drought. The margins of most fenced areas have been repeatedly ploughed in wide fire-breaks and this land is sheet eroded and presents a different substrate to the remainder of the place. Some dryland salinity is evident, especially on the steeper and more open country. Any future development of the site would need to take the salinity hazard into account. Most of the pastures are dominated by exotic grasses (including weeds) but there is potential for the recovery of native grasses when stock is eliminated. This is borne out by areas near the rifle range where stock has been excluded which have a low dense ground cover of species sensitive to grassing such as kangaroo grass. Some weeds are present in the woodland (african olive, boxthorn, briar rose, lantana and limited areas of caster oil bush) but densities are not high and an active weed management program. Condition was assessed in January 2000. |
| Location: |
| About 1370ha, at Orchard Hills, being an area enclosed by a line commencing at the intersection of the RAAF Defence Area boundary and eastern side of The Northern Road at approximate AMG point 286840E 6257810N, then easterly via the RAAF Defence Area boundary to the south west corner of Lot 2 DP589479, then northerly via the western boundary of that lot to its intersection with the southern side of a road at approximate AMG point 288110E 6257520N, then north easterly via the southern side of that road to its intersection with the northern boundary of Lot 2 DP589479, then westerly via that boundary to its intersection with the western boundary of Lot 2 DP586093, then northerly, easterly and southerly via the boundary of Lot 2 DP586093 to its intersection with the RAAF Defence Area boundary at approximate AMG point 290710E 6256230N, then easterly, southerly, westerly and northerly via the RAAF Defence Area boundary to its intersection with AMG northing 6255080mN (approximate AMG point 285700E 6255080N), then via straight lines joining the following AMG points consecutively; 285677E 6255100N, 285812E 6255110N, 285937E 6255090N, 286082E 6255050N, 286207E 6254850N, 286155E 6254770N, 286186E 6254720N, 286175E 6254610N, 286279E 6254620N, 286435E 6254640N, 286518E 6254560N, 286570E 6254440N, 286684E 6254360N, 286736E 6254290N, 286777E 6254230N, 286725E 6254120N, 286622E 6254090N, 286487E 6254020N, 286404E 6253940N, 286383E 6253830N, 286404E 6253710N, 286705E 6253630N, 286881E 6253720N, 286985E 6253790N, 287057E 6253830N, 287130E 6253840N, 287109E 6253910N, 287078E 6254140N, 287140E 6254380N, 287213E 6254520N, 287306E 6254620N, 287389E 6254640N, 287410E 6254730N, 287441E 6254910N, 287524E 6254960N, 287493E 6255060N, 287462E 6255130N, 287223E 6255240N, 287109E 6255310N, 287047E 6255260N, 287006E 6255290N, 286995E 6255360N, 287037E 6255450N, 287140E 6255390N, 287265E 6255460N, 287223E 6255560N, 287244E 6255620N, 287389E 6255630N, 287421E 6255670N, 287379E 6255750N, 287327E 6255710N, 287265E 6255770N, 287275E 6255900N, 287358E 6255930N, 287452E 6255970N, 287514E 6255940N, 287493E 6255830N, 287545E 6255740N, 287587E 6255730N, 287628E 6255710N, 287680E 6255730N, 287804E 6255710N, 287825E 6255530N, 287815E 6255480N, 287732E 6255480N, 287701E 6255510N, 287753E 6255560N, 287763E 6255640N, 287690E 6255620N, 287628E 6255640N, 287555E 6255650N, 287462E 6255610N, 287389E 6255460N, 287317E 6255370N, 287400E 6255290N, 287400E 6255240N, 287524E 6255190N, 287607E 6255210N, 287659E 6255170N, 287732E 6255250N, 287732E 6255320N, 287898E 6255370N, 287939E 6255330N, 288064E 6255330N, 288147E 6255430N, 288209E 6255420N, 288282E 6255470N, 288344E 6255520N, 288354E 6255570N, 288396E 6255620N, 288437E 6255690N, 288427E 6255840N, 288448E 6255910N, 288479E 6255910N, 288551E 6255930N, 288645E 6255930N, 288832E 6256100N, 288821E 6256160N, 288064E 6256260N, then westerly to the intersection of The Northern Road with AMG northing 6256450mN (approximate AMG point 286540E 6256450N), then northerly via the RAAF Defence Area boundary to the point of commencement. |
| Bibliography: |
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Benson, D. 1992.The natural vegetation of the Penrith 1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2:541 -595 Benson, D. & Howell, J 1990, Sydney's vegetation 1788-1988:utilization,degradation and rehabilitation. Proc. Ecol. Soc .Aust. 16: 115-127 Chessman, B & Williams,S,1999, Biodiversity and conservation of river macroinvertebrates on an expanding urban fringe: western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in Pacific conservation Biology Vol 5:36-55, Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney. Fox & Associates, 1991, Heritage Study of the City of Penrith, Penrith. French, K & Calligan, B & Hill, S. 2000, Classifying endangered vegetation communities: A case study of Cumberland Plain Woodlands. Janet Cosh Herbarium, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong. James, T. & McDougall , L.& Benson, D .1999, Rare Bushland Plants of Western Sydney. Royal Botanic Gardens. Sydney. Mulgoa Progress Association, 1988, Mulgoa! Mulgoa!, Mulgoa. McClelland, J, 1986, History of NSW 1788-1986, Silverdale. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1997, Urban Bushland Biodiversity Survey, Stage I, Western Sydney. NSPW, PO Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW, 2001. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2000, Native Vegetation Maps of the Cumberland Plain, Western Sydney, Interpretation Guidelines, NSW Government. Penrith City Council.1997, Fauna and Flora Corridors Study, Conserving Biodiversity in the Penrith Local Government Area. Penrith Contacts Marina Peterson Roger Lembit, NSW Advisory Panel to AHC Teresa James |
Report Produced: Tue Feb 9 16:05:15 2010