After severe rainfall in 2022 and 2024 devastated one of Mitchell Shire’s 36 Natural Treasures, the Tallarook Arboretum was declared closed to the public.
It was no light shower on Friday, October 14, 2022, when a once in a century flood saw the Goulburn River at Seymour peak at 8.23 metres. Two years later, another wet weather event only exacerbated safety concerns, resulting in the arboretum’s closure for repairs and restoration.
Mitchell Shire Council (MSC) accessed funding from the Local Government Victoria Council Flood Support Fund and their Emergency Management and Recovery teams worked alongside their environment team to clear fallen trees, debris, repair paths, fences, and the picnic shelter.
The torrential rain had also carried away the soils’ nutrients, seed stock, and earth, which left some remaining plant species exposed and vulnerable.
MSC officers worked in partnership with the Dabyminga Catchment Cooperative (DCC) to replant indigenous plant species.
After much hard work, the arboretum was declared safe and is now open to the public.
MSC Mayor Councillor John Dougall congratulated everyone involved, and invited locals to visit the natural treasure.
“We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our teams and the volunteer groups who maintain the arboretum,” he said.
“Their collective efforts have been instrumental in restoring the area for the enjoyment of the community and to improve the environmental values of the site.”
Southwest Goulburn Landcare Network Facilitator Vanessa Malandrin also thanked everyone who had contributed to making the place beautiful for everyone to enjoy, extending a special acknowledgement to volunteer Jeff Wilmot who spearheaded much of the action.
“The site chosen for the Tallarook Arboretum was a weedy waste on Crown land, adjoining the Dabyminga Creek,” she said.
“Jeff Wilmot, on behalf of the group, obtained permission from the Department of Primary Industries to use the land, and obtained grants from Mitchell Shire and the Natural Heritage Fund.”
Since it’s reopening, DCC volunteers have continued to maintain the arboretum and select species important to the Taungurung people, the Traditional Owners of the Tallarook Arboretum.
The Tallarook Wetlands and Arboretum is located at the end of a short laneway off Main Road in Tallarook. Tree species include the River Red Gum and the Manna Gum, which is a staple food source for koalas.
The DCC meet on the first Sunday of each new season, and their next meeting is Sunday, June 1. To learn more about the DCC, call on 0415 381 452, or email jenny.j.mcinnes@gmail.com.
To learn more about the arboretum, visit www.beam.org.au/naturaltreasures/tallarook-arboretum.
