Granite Outcrops and Jarrah Woodland Near Boddington

Overview

Mooradung Nature Reserve sits about 12 kilometres south-east of Boddington, on the eastern edge of the Darling Range. At 631.7 hectares, it is the largest nature reserve in the Shire of Boddington, yet it feels quite distinct from the bigger forest blocks nearby because it marks a transition between the taller forests to the west and the lower-rainfall woodlands further east.

The landscape is mostly upland country with gravelly soils, laterite ridges, creek lines and patches of exposed granite. That mix gives the reserve a varied, slightly rugged character and helps explain why it holds such a representative sample of the region’s plant and animal life.

Highlights

What stands out here is the meeting of different landscape types in one compact reserve. Jarrah woodland covers much of the higher ground, while granite outcrops, heath and drainage lines break up the country and create a more varied scene than you might expect from a single reserve on the edge of farming land.

Its position on the eastern side of the Darling Range also gives Mooradung a real sense of change across the landscape. This is not deep forest and not open wheatbelt either, but a place in between, where the shift in landforms and vegetation is part of what makes it memorable.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months are usually the most comfortable time to be out in this part of south-west Western Australia. Mooradung has a Mediterranean climate, so autumn through spring generally brings milder conditions and greener country, while spring is often the most rewarding season for seeing the reserve’s heath and woodland at their liveliest.

Plants and Animals

Jarrah is the main tree here, with Wandoo along drainage lines and Marri scattered through the reserve. Heath vegetation and small granite areas add another layer of diversity, so the plant communities change noticeably from one part of the reserve to another rather than staying uniform throughout.

That variety supports a broad range of fauna, and several species recorded here are of particular note. The reserve has records of the crested shrike-tit, the threatened plant Grevillea cirsiifolia, and slender mallee, which is regionally uncommon. Even without seeing those species, the reserve’s value lies in how well it preserves a cross-section of the local bush on this transition zone between forest and woodland.

Culture and Heritage

Mooradung Nature Reserve is identified with Gnaala Karla Booja Traditional Owners on the reserve’s management page.