Greetings fellow Foxies,
This approximately 2000 ha reserve is adjacent to Pauley Road 15 km north-east of Cuballing.
The unusual shape of the reserve is due to it being a gravelly ridge between Commodine Creek and Hotham River, which remained after adjoining farmers had cleared better quality surrounding land
In the early 1900’s there were many new settlers clearing land in east Cuballing, particularly given that an east-west railway line was expected to pass through the area.
This approximately 2000 ha reserve is adjacent to Pauley Road 15 km north-east of Cuballing.
The unusual shape of the reserve is due to it being a gravelly ridge between Commodine Creek and Hotham River, which remained after adjoining farmers had cleared better quality surrounding land
In the early 1900’s there were many new settlers clearing land in east Cuballing, particularly given that an east-west railway line was expected to pass through the area.
A one-teacher transportable school arrived in 1921 but struggled to attract students and closed in 1936. More information can be found in the book (Numbat Country The story of the shire of Cuballing from earliest times until 1997’ page 129)
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Derelict tennis courts of the Commodine Tennis Club are still present on the north-west corner of the reserve. This was a very active club that operated from 1908 to 1991. Numbat Country: page 166.
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From Pauley Road the reserve looks like wandoo/salmon gum/ sheoak woodland, but it is much more variable with most being gravels. Purple and red shaded areas are loamy gravels (Red Morrel soil) and Brown Mallet breakaways that are underlain by dolerite type bedrock. On the southern end is also a strip of less common Silver Mallet. These areas have very little understory, but a great bird habitat areas. Red Morrel wood is exceptionally hard, and was used for the axles and spokes of horse/ bullock carts and wagons.
The rest of the reserve underlain by granite bedrock includes sandy and stony gravels, wandoo woodland, and small patches of yellow and white sand.
The rest of the reserve underlain by granite bedrock includes sandy and stony gravels, wandoo woodland, and small patches of yellow and white sand.
 solid: access OK, dotted rough boggy or blocked |  main soil types |
Bush adjoining Pauley Road is best for wildflower enthusiasts, with a great display of Fringed Mantis, Cowslip and donkey orchids in the sheoak woodland and lovely everlastings in wandoo open woodland. I thoroughly enjoy driving down the north-west boundary track, and walking through the rest of the reserve. It is quite easy to walk through and the vegetation changes frequently from gravel mallee and ti tree scrub to different woodland types with frequent grass trees. I find the south east corner particularly interesting, but the track there can be difficult due to fallen vegetation.
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Some grass trees have been damaged and killed by Ring Necked parrots and there are active rabbit burrows in sandy spots. This is another example of how difficult it is to manage small reserves to maintain biodiversity
To summarise: Commodine Nature Reserve is a very pleasant spot for the average tourist to visit in spring for wildflowers and local history, and a good spot for bird enthusiasts.
It is also a good spot for more dedicated bushwalkers and wildflower enthusiasts.
It is also a good spot for more dedicated bushwalkers and wildflower enthusiasts.
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