Limestone tunnels and sandplain country at Stockyard Gully Reserve

Overview

Stockyard Gully Reserve sits in the northern Wheatbelt near Eneabba, roughly three hours north of Perth. It protects a pocket of limestone country where a sandy gully cuts through the landscape and leads into a tunnel-like cave system, giving the reserve a very different feel from the surrounding open sandplain.

The reserve is relatively small, but its character is distinctive. It combines low scrubby bush, limestone formations and cave features in one compact area, so the sense of place comes as much from the geology underfoot as from the surface landscape.

Highlights

The standout feature here is the limestone karst. Stockyard Gully is known for its tunnel carved through limestone, along with a broader cave system shaped by water moving through the reserve over time. The gully itself adds to the scenery, creating a sheltered corridor through otherwise open country.

There is also a quiet contrast between the pale limestone, sandy creek line and the surrounding heath and shrubland. In spring, the reserve is noted for its wildflowers, which bring extra colour to the sandplain setting.

Best Time to Visit

The cooler months are generally the most comfortable time to be here, when walking through the gully and around the limestone country is more pleasant. Spring is especially rewarding if you want to see the reserve at its most colourful, with wildflowers adding another layer to the landscape.

Plants and Animals

Stockyard Gully Reserve protects native flora on the sandplain and is recognised for flora conservation. Seasonal wildflowers are one of the more noticeable features above ground, while the cave system adds a very different habitat below ground.

The caves are important for wildlife as well as geology. The Stockyard Tunnel has been recorded as a shelter for chocolate wattled bats, and frogs are also found in the stream area. Surveys of the wider Stockyard cave system have recorded a range of cave-dwelling invertebrates, showing that the reserve’s ecological value extends beyond what is immediately visible on the surface.