Langwarrin Flora AND Fauna Reserve

McClelland Drive, Langwarrin

Founder base of former camp building.

Citation:

History
This site is one of the most important within Frankston City as the location from the 1880s until c1979 of the Langwarrin Army Camp and as a "unique island of indigenous flora and fauna, largely surrounded by cleared land".1

It was the site of one of a number of important military establishments opened in the 1880s on the Mornington Peninsula area for the defence of Melbourne. In December 1886 a 109 acre site was permanently reserved as a military camp at Langwarrin. After three more transfers, the Military Reserve on Crown Allotments 51 and 51C, Parish of Langwarrin, was extended to its present 509 acres. An irregular site, it extended to Taylor (now North) Road on the north, along Camp Road (now McClelland Drive) on the west, to Warrandyte Road on the east, and down to Robinsons Road on the south.2

From Easter 1887 the Victorian Government used the Reserve for a variety of military purposes. An 1887 Mornington Peninsula map shows the Langwarrin Army Camp with its parade ground and roads "named for military purposes only". Some of these new names included Napoleon, Wellington and Marlborough, and the names of popular colonial Governors Darling, Barkly and Hotham.3

The Military Reserve became an important district landmark and tourist site, and attracted development in the vicinity. A railway station was built on the other side of Camp Road and a school was opened within the Defence Ground. There was an attempt in March 1888 to establish "Aldershot... a New Military Township ... immediately facing the Permanent Camp of the Victoria Forces. An advertisement in 'The Age' offered 451 business and villa sites "with the railway station on the land". It was pointed out that the Victorian Government had most carefully chosen a site with "a central and commanding position" to "protect the capital in a vulnerable point".4

At first water supply was in short supply, however, wells were sunk and in 1889 the reservoir was constructed. Areas were drained to make them suitable for military drill purposes. By 1890 a commissariat shed for food supply and a caretaker's quarters formed a standing camp. At Federation in 1901, the military reserve passed under the control of the Commonwealth Government.

In late 1914, a detention centre for German prisoners-of-war was established and, in 1915, part of the camp was redesigned as a military hospital for venereal disease patients. During the war period improved facilities included a better water supply, additional roads and drains, a butcher's shop and post office, and a steam pumping station at the reservoir which included a boiler and pump, coke filter beds and underground tanks.

After the war, all military structures were removed, the prisoners were transferred for repatriation, and the use of the hospital for military venereal disease treatment ceased in 1920.

The Military Reserve was used for defence purposes during the Second World War and up until the late 1970s. From early 1974 it was managed by the former Balcombe Military Camp and used for part-time military training and various non-military activities. It was a valuable area for training metropolitan Reserve units, and was used by the Army Reserve, school cadets, and the Balcombe Army Apprentices' School.5 The Murdochs leased this land for grazing in the 1920s end in the memory of Elisabeth Murdoch it was then cleared grazing land which has since regenerated.

In January 1980 the Commonwealth Minister for Administrative Services leased the Reserve to the Victorian Minister for Conservation, for the purpose of protecting conservation values, as a flora and fauna reserve to be managed by the National Parks Service.6 The State Government purchased the Reserve from the Commonwealth Government on 28 June 1982 for the sum of $330,000. Studies have been undertaken to identify the natural resources contained in the Reserve, following Winty Calder's 1975 study which documented both natural and historical features. f Ibid: 1, 2.

Historic sites identified include the old Military Camp Hospital which includes the fountain, the last remaining intact structure from military occupation, and mature non-indigenous tree species; the reservoir and associated structures built by the Defence Department and fed by a natural spring; and the stop butt (site 44), part of the rifle range.7

Planting
The site's vegetation during the major development stages differed from its present revegetated state which appears to be unrelated to the cultural aspects of the place. A detailed history, description and list of introduced exotic plants at this site is provided by W. Calder in her report Langwarrin Military Reserve Ecological evaluation for the Shire of Cranbourne (1975). Calder says that in 1921 a lease to the Langwarrin Progress Association was approved to use the site of the former camp as a recreation reserve. Many improvements were carried out including garden plots, shrubberies, pathways and a Red Cross building.8 Some of the activities on this site are reputed to have been related to other nearby sites such as the cottage and kiln on the Joseph Church site: the bricks are thought to have been baked on the Flora & Fauna Reserve site.

The site is a NTA recorded landscape and of significance as a native flora and fauna reserve. It was considered in the 1970s as an annexe to the Royal Botanical Gardens, Melbourne [Calder, 1975].

Description
Externally this reserve is perceived as native forest but with some mature exotics visible and with great archaeological potential, this reserve has many sites within its boundaries from the army or associated occupation.

These include:
the old camp site, with a circular concrete fountain base (last structure remaining from the army occupation) and associated but later mature exotic trees such as Monterey cypress and other species; the unusual and notable rectangular reservoir (horse watering?), with its dressed basalt capping to the concrete wall, and associated reservoirs (also with basalt capping) and other works fed by a spring; and earthen target pits and butts, used for army training in World War One.

The location of 'Pinus radiata' pines and other exotics is described in Calder (1975) and shown on her Map 5, Patterns of Indigenous Plant Communities. There were about 8 major groups or clusters of trees said by Calder to have been planted c1900. The list of exotic species was quite extensive and included many introduced native trees such as 'Acacia baileyana'- some of which may still remain. Exotic species planted on the old camp site had developed by 1975 into an arboretum. Further detailed investigation may be able to identify these for cultural assessment.

Condition
The complex owned by Telecom is an unrelated incursion into the reserve on the north-west. The identified sites have all been changed with the exception of the stone-capped reservoirs which appear to be in good condition. Mature exotic (and native) planting has been disturbed or cut down Only dead stumps of 'Pinus radiata' have been surveyed (others not apparent); there are no live specimens located of any types of pine or other cypress except for two cypress specimens including a golden Monterey cypress. Note that some introduced species may have weed potential.

Context
The native planting relates to other native vegetation to the south and the reserve offers a buffer for other rural holdings nearby.

Significance
This site has regional historical significance as the location of an important military establishment, one of a number on the Mornington Peninsula opened during the colonial era as strategic military outposts. The elements within the site which are of individual note include the stone-capped reservoirs in the north part of the site while the fountain base is also of note as a remnant of the camp.

The remnant introduced planting is of potential regional significance: golden cypress tree 'Cupressus macrocarpa' which may be associated with the fountain (army occupation period) or more likely, the 1921 or later improvements by the Langwarrin Progress Association (further research beyond the scope of this brief).

The site is a National Trust of Australia classified landscape substantially for its natural values and considered by the Trust to be of state significance.

Boundaries
Extent of current reserve with all identified artifacts and land with nominally 5m of the perimeter of each and any associated mature exotic planting such as the two Monterey cypress at the fountain.