Sandy Creek Centre

25/02/2026

Thanks a zillion - Bauple Scouts had a great time, Hiking & sleeping under stars (older ones) and learning Bushcrafts for the younger ones, they also cooked skewed meat (using local sticks) and so much more. No electricity, no phone reception, no electronic devices WOW! 20 of us ages 5 to 74.😁

10/11/2025

If I asked you to name the largest lizard in Australia you would probaly say "the Goanna". This is a term often used to describe any one of a number of species of large lizards we encounter when out in the bush and it is often used in conjunction with the terms "that's a large one" or "Check out the little one". Most of us probably assume the bigger they are the older they are the smaller the lizard the younger it is. The truth is that "Goanna" is a generic term that is used in reference to a number of species of Monitor Lizards. The most common useage is in reference to the Lace Monitor (varanus varius) which is one of the largest in Australia, second to the Perentie, but there are other species that are smaller and are often confused for young/juvenile versions of the Lace Monitor.

Through our inaturalist research project we have successfully identified 3 species of Monitor Lizard who are permanent residents of the Sandy Creek Centre. You can check out thier details in the images or go to https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/sandy-creek-centre-biome
to find out more about these amazing reptiles.

03/11/2025

Spent the afternoon setting up camera traps. Hoping to track the path a local Dingo takes as he wanders around the site.

04/12/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/1KNsxXYg3F/

Over a quarter of Australia's butterflies use native grasses as their host-plants and 'Mat-Rushes' (Lomandra species) – which vary greatly in size, and habitats – are the the host-plants for more than 17 species of native Australian butterflies!

The largest Lomandra is the 'Spiny-Headed Mat-Rush' – which is a host-plant for 9 species of ‘Ochre' butterflies

Spiny-Headed Mat-Rush is widely used by Councils – as it's a VERY hardy plant (and widely available). It’s ability to soak-up and store rainfall and ground water in it’s thick leaves – also makes it VERY useful for it’s fire-resistance properties

Spiny-Headed Mat-Rush (aka ‘Basket Grass’) has always been a VERY significant plant to Australia’s first nations: It’s seeds have been harvested to make bread for millennia. The long, smooth-edged and strappy leaves have been used to weave mats for sitting and lying upon (why they're called ‘Mat-Rushes’) as well as baskets, bags and fishing pots etc. The soft white ‘blanched’ leaf base is also nutritious for a snack – or as a bush-survival food.

Spiny-Headed Mat-Rush makes a great addition to gardens, verges, habitat corridors, parklands, regeneration projects...
You can find out more about it here: https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2007/lomandra-longifolia.html

[Distribution maps for the 8 featured Ochre butterflies are in the Comments]