Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / NSW / Two Rivers Catchment Reserve

Sharon Fulcher is the owner of Two Rivers Catchment Reserve, a property situated in Ballyroe, approximately 160km west of Sydney, New South Wales. The property is used for passive recreation and as a dedicated wildlife sanctuary. It is Sharon’s intent to secure protection for flora and fauna on the property, with future plans to regenerate some areas by replanting native species and controlling invasive plants and pest species.

The property covers approximately 537 hectares comprised of eucalypt woodland, dry sclerophyll forests and grasslands as well as riparian and riverine communities. The property has approximately 4 kilometres of frontage to the Abercrombie River to the south and around 3 kilometres of frontage to the Isabella River to the north, providing important riparian corridors for these river systems. The property also features some steep gorge country and a fire trail which runs from the east to the west.

Vegetation largely consists of eucalypt woodland and sclerophyll forest alongside a small remnant area of native grassland heavily infested with serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma). A limited survey has identified apple box (Eucalyptus bridgesiana), yellow box (E. melliodora) and brittle gum (E. mannifera) species which may provide habitat for koalas.

The property is home to a wide range of native species identified by camera traps, including 67 species of native bird. Among these are the vulnerable gang-gang cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum), scarlet robin (Petroica boodang) and dusky woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus). The property also provides habitat for two endangered species: the Booroolong frog (Litoria booroolongensis) and the Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica).

Also identified were bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula) and ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums, short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), wallaroos (Macropus robustus), Gippsland water dragons (Intellagama Iesuerii howttii), monitors (Varanus spp.), snakes, dragons and skinks.

Along with the wide variety of native species, feral animals including goats (Capra hircus), pigs (Sus scrofa), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are also present.