Friends of Newport Lakes

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Friends of Newport Lakes

Newport Lakes is a bushland oasis created from a former bluestone quarry and rubbish tip site. We pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

OUR STORY

Newport Lakes is a rare and important reserve, a bush land oasis, created from a former bluestone (basalt) quarry and rubbish tip, where indigenous animals and plants manage to thrive, in the heart of our ever expanding city. The reserve is 33 hectares in size and is a great place to have a picnic with family and friends, a picturesque run or just relax in a tranquil setting. The reserv

e is now home to more than 200 plant and 85 bird species. Friends of Newport Lakes (FoNL) was formed in 1997 to promote the welfare of Newport Lakes. Hobson's Bay City Council remains the major initiator, funder and manager of the reserve but it encourages and responds to input from FoNL, the local community and reserve users. We liaise with the rangers, ward councillors and other areas of the HBCC, as appropriate, to exchange information or provide input into plans, projects or decisions impacting the reserve or to initiate or lobby for activities and funding that benefit the reserve. Our purposes are to:

* retain the whole area as a public reserve
* maintain and protect the diversity and uniqueness of the reserve's flora and fauna
* be a focus, a resource, and an intermediary for people's involvement
* educate to promote care by the community

We aim to foster community interest in the reserve by:

* holding entertainment in less sensitive areas of the reserve
* leading educational walks through the reserve
* advertising our regular events
* promoting community engagement with the reserve via projects and events
* distributing regular newsletters to our members

If this interests you please contact us! Location

Newport Lakes reserve is located off Margaret St, Newport (just off Mason St.) For those traveling by public transport, the reserve is about a 15 minute walk from Newport Station, or connecting buses travel down Mason St. FoNL acknowledges the peoples of the Kulin nation as the Traditional Owners of these municipal lands and water ways. Page Admins: Gaida & Anthony

16/06/2026

Hoeing makes us happy ☀️😁

14/06/2026

Thank you to the 50+ superstars who joined our working bee today! ⭐👏
Planting seedlings into clay soil was a challenge, but you all did an incredible job. 🙌

Great work, everyone! 🌿💚💪

09/06/2026

Yes, that’s a lot of seedling pots… but we still have more planting to do! 🌿🌳

Come along and help, everyone is welcome!

📅 Sunday, 14 June 2026 🕙 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Meet at the car park at 9:50am.
Ranger in attendance.

☕🍪 We will reward you with refreshments!

24/05/2026

🌿 FoNL’s latest project: Nest boxes at Newport Lakes! 🐾

Newport Lakes provides important habitat for local and nomadic wildlife. You can spot a diverse array of birdlife there, however native mammal species are limited, especially those that rely on tree hollows for shelter and breeding. Tree hollows can take more than 70 years to develop, and the trees on-site are currently too young to provide this vital, natural resource.

To help improve mammalian diversity, FoNL has engaged Miles Geldard to install and monitor:
2x Brushtail possum nest box
2x Ringtail possum nest box
1x Microbat nest box

wildlifenestboxes.com.au

💚 Thank you Miles!
👏 Thank you ExxonMobil for funding this project!

23/05/2026

14/05/2026

It was a VERY happy Mother’s Day at Newport Lakes! Over 300 seedlings were planted in the wildlife flower bed!

Great work everyone! 👏💚

13/05/2026

Have you ever spotted a Superb Fairywren at Newport Lakes, its tiny, rounded body and long tail flitting and hopping amidst the shrubbery? Surprisingly, our social structures and behaviour have a lot in common with these little birds! If you’d like to learn more, click the link below. 🤩

Despite their small size, fairy-wrens have surprisingly complex social ties. They’ll risk life and limb to help others – but only if they know them.

04/05/2026

🌸 Have you noticed the raised garden bed at the entrance to the conservation area? 🌸

It was planted, in addition to the wildflower bed, to help attract native bees and other pollinators back to the area. You might even be inspired to grow some of these species in your own garden! 🤩

💧 What’s special about this garden bed? It’s a wicking bed, a self watering system that stores water in a reservoir at the bottom. Through capillary action, moisture is drawn up into the soil, keeping plants consistently hydrated 🌱. This means: ✔️ Less water usage ✔️ Healthier, deeper roots ✔️ More resilient plants

🔧 Our wicking bed recently sprang a small leak, which was repaired by our capable committee member, Greg! He not only repaired it but also originally built it, dedicating an entire weekend to the project. Thanks Greg! 💪⭐️👏

Thanks also to ExxonMobil for funding this FoNL project! 💚

03/05/2026

🌼 Celebrate Mother’s Day next Sunday 🌼 by getting your hands in the soil and planting seedlings at our local reserve! 🌱

All ages are welcome. Ranger in attendance.
🍪 Refreshments will be served at the end of the activity.
 📍 Meet in the car park at 9:50 am.

Address

Mason Street
Melbourne, VIC
3015

Website

http://www.friendsofnewportlakes.com.au/

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