Reconstruction of the pre-European vegetation of Wolgan Valley, western Blue Mountains, NSW

Historical sources and the field description of extant remnants were used to reconstruct the distribution and characteristics of the pre-European vegetation of Wolgan Valley resort, in the western Blue Mountains on the western edge of the Sydney Basin. Like many of the agricultural landscapes of Australia the vegetation of this valley has changed dramatically since European settlement, however an understanding of the original state may facilitate effective management and potentially facilitate restoration. Investigation of remnants suggests that the pre-disturbance vegetation of the now cleared valley floor can be described with four plant communities. Grassy Woodland is likely to have occupied most of the valley floor and was part of the Grassy White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely's Red Gum Woodland listed as an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and as Critically Endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Grassy woodland would have graded into a shrubby woodland extending up the drier footslopes, eventually merging with the existing Talus Slope Woodland. Riparian Forest is likely to have occupied the major drainage lines of the valley and where the water-table was consistently higher, Closed Herbfield and Shrub swamp in swampy meadows/fens was likely in a chains of ponds landscape. The characterisation of the pre-disturbance vegetation allows the identification of a suite of species appropriate for planting in relevant landforms. Significantly, the luxury resort has the space to experiment with the various techniques needed to restore some of this Endangered Ecological Community, and in so doing make a significant contribution to its broader regional survival.