Allora Mountain Reserve
Author: Glenn Leiper
Published: Journal June 2021
Allora is a rural town in a farming community with a population of over 1,200, situated north of Warwick on the southern Darling Downs, at an elevation of 467 metres. The name Allora is believed to have been derived from the Keinjan language group’s “gnarrallah” meaning waterhole or swampy ground, probably with reference to Dalrymple Creek which runs through the district. The district boasts some famous former residents such as Laura Geitz (former national netball team captain) and Wayne Bennett (rugby league football coach). The town also has a wonderful display of over 30 well-preserved historic buildings, including ‘Mary Poppins House’ which was the family home of the young Helen Lyndon Goff before she became famous as P.L.Travers, the author of ‘Mary Poppins’.
Overlooking the town is a flat-topped hill (known as a mesa), a rocky basalt area that dominates a 210 hectare reserve of predominantly eucalypt forest, known as the Allora Mountain Flora and Fauna Reserve, and is maintained by the Allora Landcare Group and local council. Over the years, this active Landcare group has built a couple of walking tracks, and a picnic area with an information shelter complete with displays of newspaper clippings, maps, photos and a comprehensive plant species list compiled by Ian Menkins in 2013. Over 120 bird species have been recorded here including nesting wedgetail eagles, and animals including koalas.
Rocky basalt drop-off on the edge of the mesa
The reserve not only preserves the flora and fauna but also elements of the rich indigenous history, including scar trees, artefacts and bora rings. The Allora Advertiser of August 2016 had an article by journalist Colin Newport that reported the reserve as a “favourite camping place of the local aboriginal people”. Interestingly, it was also the home of a hermit known to the Allora citizens as ‘Dutchy Wells’ in the early 1900s.
The forest is dominated by Mountain Coolibah trees Eucalyptus orgadophila with a grassy understorey. The soil is typical of the Downs’ rich dark basalt deposits, promoting a healthy diversity of plants, mainly in this case lots of herbaceous species including native grasses and wildflowers. During our two visits in January and April 2021, the recent rains had promoted an explosion of germination and green shoots, a much-needed recovery after the drought conditions of recent years.
On the lower slopes to the east of the mesa where the rich black basaltic soil is deep, much of the tree cover has been cleared long ago, although some areas remain, and this has promoted a grassdominated flora, sadly with many weed species. However, amongst these weeds is a rich diversity of native herbaceous species, all flowering well after the rains.
Daisies such as Camptacra, Brachyscome, Vittadinia, Rhodanthe, Cymbonotus (Bears Ear), Leiocarpa and Calotis (Burr-Daisies) were common.
Chamomile Sunray Rhodanthe anthemoides
Bears Ear Cymbonotus lawsonianus
Blue Burr-Daisy Calotis cuneata
Smooth Rice Flower Pimelea glauca
Australian Anchor Plant Discaria pubescens is a very thorny plant
The bright white clustered flowers of Smooth Rice Flower Pimelea glauca were obvious, and the occasional Austral Cornflower Rhaponticum australis, classified as a Vulnerable species, were spotted. Another threatened species, the spiny shrub Australian Anchor Plant Discaria pubescens were looking the worse for wear with dead stems. Occasional pea species such as orange flowered Fire Pea Tephrosia bidwillii were spotted, but overall the forest lacked pea plant diversity. The unusual white-flowering Rough Burr Daisy Calotis scabiosifolia var. scabiosifolia that produces hairy stolons (above ground runners) up to 70cm long that end in a juvenile plant that takes root subsequently.
Rough Burr-Daisy. Photo Ian Menkins
Creeping Sunflower Apowollastonia spilanthoides
Climbing up the rocky slope of the hill, we noticed a subtle change in the flora with the spectacular Creeping Sunflower Apowollastonia spilanthoides and the purple Australian Bugle Ajuga australis putting on a show. The flat summit area while being quite expansive and open, was a slight disappointment from a flora perspective, being heavily dominated by herbaceous weeds under the open eucalypt canopy. However, the views across the countryside and the birdlife made it worthwhile.
It’s tremendous that this reserve is in existence and preserves an area of the original vegetation community, providing habitat for some interesting flora and fauna, where much of the surrounding district has been cleared. It’s a bit of a pity though that the weeds from those surrounding agricultural areas have invaded the reserve and tend to dominate some areas to the detriment of the natives. However, if you’re in the district, and have a couple of hours to spare, a visit to Allora and the reserve is recommended, especially if there have been some recent rains.
Australian Bugle Ajuga australis