Karri Country on the Edge of St John Brook

Overview

Cambray State Forest sits near Nannup in Western Australia’s South West, in a landscape of native forest, waterways and broad forested plateau country. It is part of the larger south-west forest system and has long been managed as multiple-use state forest, with much of the area tied to the proposed St John Brook and Jarrahwood conservation parks.

What gives Cambray its character is the way forest and water meet. The St John Brook area forms a greener corridor through the broader forest, while nearby sections connect with other public lands including Blackwood River National Park. That mix of creek lines, open forest and larger intact bushland gives the area a quieter, more spacious feel than many heavily developed parklands.

Highlights

The standout scenery here is the south-west forest itself. Around Cambray, the landscape shifts between taller karri country and more open jarrah and marri forest, with creek flats and riparian vegetation adding softer, denser patches along the watercourses. St John Brook brings a sense of contrast to the drier uplands, creating a cooler, sheltered strip through the forest.

This is also a place where the broader shape of the country matters as much as any single feature. Cambray sits within a large stretch of forested land on the Blackwood Plateau, and that scale is part of its appeal. Instead of one dramatic focal point, the interest comes from the rhythm of forest, brook lines and the sense of being in a continuous belt of south-west bush.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months are usually the most comfortable time to spend time in Cambray State Forest, when walking conditions are milder and the forest feels fresh and green. Spring is especially appealing, with flowering plants adding colour through the understorey and along the brook margins.

In the warmer part of the year, the shaded forest and the presence of St John Brook can make the area feel calmer than more exposed country, though the landscape is typically drier. Seasonal changes are a big part of how this forest presents, so the place can feel quite different between winter, spring and late summer.

Plants and Animals

Cambray supports a mix of wetland, woodland and forest ecosystems, which is one reason it holds strong conservation value within the South West. Around the St John Brook corridor, swamp peppermint lines the banks, while elsewhere the forest includes marri, river banksia, peppermint and jarrah on higher ground. The broader district also sits within the main karri belt that begins around Nannup.

The combination of creek habitat and open forest supports a good spread of wildlife. Native fish recorded in the St John Brook system include western minnow, night fish and western pygmy perch. Birdlife is varied, and the area also supports reptiles, amphibians and mammals typical of healthy south-west forest. Across the wider forested landscape, these habitats help protect restricted vegetation communities as well as rare and priority flora and fauna.

Culture and Heritage

Cambray State Forest has a strong timber history, reflected in the old rail alignment through the area and in the long-standing connection between the forest and nearby milling country around Nannup. This is part of the cultural shape of the place today, especially around St John Brook, where the earlier timber industry left a clear mark on how the landscape was used and understood.