Mt Rothwell Excursion

This privately owned Environmental Research Property is a joy to visit. It is  480hectares of Victorian Volcanic Plains and Woody Grassland EVCs, protected by covenant and providing habitat for more than half a dozen ‘little Australian mammals’ extinct in the wild and now living and breeding in a safe environment.  Protected by a 3metre electric fence, designed and built when the property belonged to John Womesley, it was then known as the Little River Earth Sanctuary.

Members of the WCMN including Peter Morrison, joined by 7 friends, shared some delicious delicacies, threatened by a rather demanding emu who stole sausages off the BBQ & even out of the hands of the unwary. We had two excellent guides, Prenda and Nathan, who took us through some of the more established tree covered grasslands while there was still daylight, until a sharp shower of rain drove us back. After darkness fell we walked and climbed up through open grasslands up to the top of the granite rocky outcrop called Mt Rothwell, on the lookout for little mammals. 

There was no shortage of sightings as the sun set behind us. Rufus Betongs, a small kangaroo species with a prehensile tail, were very quiet, feeding with little concern for our gasps and stares. As were Brush-tailed Rock Wallabies who moved quietly through the granite rocks as we climbed higher.  Eastern Barred Bandicoots were more elusive and difficult to see as they are quite small (less than a kilo) and of similar colour to the dry grass and almost indistinguishable until they move; but we did see more than our guides expected.  They are much paler and smaller than the more common Brown Bandicoots, otherwise sharing the same feeding and breeding habits. Long-nosed Potoroos and Eastern Spotted Quolls are very shy and hard to spot, but one obliging Eastern Spotted Quoll displayed his scavenging skills very close by as he jumped up on the chopping block where Prenda had recently chopped up rabbits.  This Quoll and two more live in the machinery shed; it is sad that our forebears did not recognize the potential of the Quolls to tame for pets in place of cats!  We also were lucky enough to see a Barn owl who studied us for some minutes before gliding silently after prey.

Our walk was sadly interrupted by a rather cold wind and then heavy rain which seemed to worry us much more than the feeding animals. We were happy to return to the meeting shelter for coffee and a debrief with Prenda and Nathan before heading home in all directions. I am confident that all participants enjoyed the experience and will spread the word to encourage future visitors as well as to plan another visit themselves.

Jill McFarlane

Mt Rothwell arranges guided night walks on the last Saturday of every month. Cost $35 pp.  Booking is essential  Tel: 0434 953 355    Article by Jill MacFarlane, Photos by Barrie Taylor – top eastern quoll, bottom- rufus bettong