Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve — Attraction in Melbourne

As a naturalist and bush regenerator I was overjoyed at the repurposing of the land to encourage indigenous wading birds to breed. I was pleased to see numerous aquatic avian species such as white faced heron and granivorous birds such as the eastern rosella!

The landscaping looks great, I love the rock hop stones that double as a path and habitat for small aquatic inhabitants.

The flora species planted are interesting and mostly indigenous to the local area. A lot of these species are tolerant to alluvial situations, this may seem like a good economical choice regarding plant success but with the presence of the old irrigation system from the golf course. A much wider indigenous array of plants could’ve been chosen to increase diversity. The placement of the flora is not ecologically ideal. Would be great to instate dense mid story scrub such as Melaleuca ericafolia planted less than 50cm apart in riparian zones for ideal nesting habitat. The continued ecological management and funding for the park is appalling and a variety of weeds species are widespread. It’s hard for me to believe that no one has removed completely established exotic poisonous nightshade species full of hundreds of deadly fruit that is located right next to the path. A team of 5 for no more than a week would be able to substantially mitigate weed incursion for the entire developed area. (excluding that disgusting undeveloped south end of the park, just burn that part) This wouldn’t take much funding to clean up the wetlands without the use of herbicides and demonstrates the mismanagement and underfunding of an area that possess surprisingly good ecological value! How can the area be full of so many wealthy residents and the park is in this state. This park is a good analogy of human kind. We all have the intention of doing right by nature. Yet a majority of us don’t care enough to do something about it. Volunteer for nature folks! Nothing will spiritually...

There is a 10-year plan to reinstate this former golf course into a fantastic nature reserve. As at mid 2023 the chain of ponds section is well established and attracting plenty of wildlife. Works are now beginning on the wildflower meadows which will be a great addition to the reserve. I agree with other reviewers that it is really important that the dog owners make sure they obey the rules and keep their dogs on a lead. There are a wide range of water birds and other wildlife that use this park even in its current state and it is important that they are protected. Immediately over the road in Elsternwick Park there is plenty of space for leash-free...

Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve was a delightful discovery for me during some downtime while dog-sitting for a friend. Tucked away near St. Kilda, this reserve is a hidden gem boasting abundant native flora and fauna.

It's the perfect destination for a scenic walk, a trail run, or a photography session. I was amazed by the diverse range of birdlife, along with sightings of lizards and bugs—truly a paradise for photography enthusiasts!

I highly recommend visiting the reserve to experience the beauty of Victoria's native plants firsthand. It's a serene and picturesque retreat that's...