Grassy Cultural Pathways

The Dorrobee Grasslands Reserve Project

The Dorrobbee Grass Reserve is a small portion of land at the junction of Dunoon Road and Fraser Road just north of Dunoon village. It is one of the best-preserved stands of Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis) in the Northern Rivers. It is a crown land reserve currently managed largely through bush regeneration and Good fire by the Dorrobbee Grass Reserve Trust in partnership with the Ngulingah Aboriginal Land Council.

Grassy Cultural Pathways @ Dorrobbee Grasslands Reserve Project assisted in building recognition of grassy ecosystem values and the important role Aboriginal Cultural land management practices play in maintaining healthy landscapes. Embedded across the landscapes of north-eastern NSW are remnant ‘islands’ of fire dependent grassy woodlands surrounded by Rainforest and other wet forest types.

These ‘islands’ were often traditional Aboriginal gathering areas and traveling routes, that are now key habitat for a range of culturally significant and rare or threatened species. This project applied targeted fire regimes at the Dorrobbee Grasslands Reserve and at Broken Head, involving cultural gatherings that bought together current and aspirational cultural fire projects to learn and burn together. The Gatherings considered a regional approach to Cultural Fire Management in north-eastern NSW leading to improved fire management of these unique grassy woodlands and contribute to recovery of the threatened species and cultural connections to country.

The project was developed by Jagun Alliance with advice and mentoring from Bundjalung knowledge holders and local Custodians through a series of consultations, on ground activities and workshops.

We are grateful for the support provided by Ngulingah Local Aboriginal Land Council and Widjabul Wia-bal people, Dorrobbee Grasslands Reserve Trust and volunteers, Firesticks Alliance; Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium, Southern Cross University, NSW Rural Fire Service and Local Brigade Volunteers, Landcare members and everyone that turned up to support the project and burn sites.

The Grassy Cultural Pathways @ Dorrobbee Grasslands Reserve Project was funded by the NSW Environmental Trust through the Protecting our Places (POP) grants program, the Northern Rivers Fire and Biodiversity Consortium and Jagun Alliance Aboriginal Corporation alongside in-kind support from numerous participants. The project enabled Bundjalung people to undertake Cultural Fire mentoring, assessments, planning, bush regen and burns on Country. We appreciate the funding the NSW Environmental Trust provides to enable Aboriginal people to Care for Country.   

You can read more about this project in Our Fire Yarns - Cultural Fire at Dorrobbee Grass Reserve