Friends of Mount Monster Conservation Park

Mount Monster Conservation Park, located 13 km south of Keith boasts many special features within its 95 hectares. The parks is noted for its predominant Geological feature, a granite outcrop with a summit height of 93 m (above sea level) offering an uninterrupted view to its predominantly flat surrounds. Mt Monster was also an important historical navigation aid during the Gold rush era and is significant to indigenous peoples.

The park supports several diverse ecosystems, with the main vegetation associations being Blue gum woodland, pink gum/melaleuca woodland, peppermint box/mallee woodland, golden/prickly wattle shrublands, and broombush heath. Sheoaks, banksias and hakeas are other prevailing species. Importantly, the park protects the endangered monarto mintbush which is found naturally only in two regions, here and where name suggests! The Mt Monster population is the only one protected in a Government reserve. The park also hosts a rich diversity of orchids, plus provides an important refuge to kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas, woodland birds, reptiles and insects!

Originally donated to the State Government by the Buddle, Ellis and Davis families, the park maintains strong connections and visitation within the local community. An additional section, once previously mined for its unique granite is now also protected within the park. Revegetation of some sites within the park has been conducted to speed recovery of the damaged areas.

Our Friends Group ensure the ongoing protection of the park’s biodiversity assets by conducting environmentally sensitive weed control activities including hand pulling scabiosa, releasing rust-fungus and leaf-hoppers for bridal creeper, and crown-boring-weevils for salvation jane. We also map rabbit warrens and weed populations using GPS to plan control activities.

Our group also maintains the Gwen Ellis interpretive walking trail and brochure, and hosts a 1 day environmental education excursion each year with the local Keith Area School. Assisted by grants, we work with contractors conducting rabbit baiting and warren fumigation, and weed spot-spraying bridal creeper and veldt grass to protect the monarto mintbush population. Fox baiting is also undertaken in the park in conjunction with our neighbours to protect native wildlife.

The Friends of Mount Monster Conservation Park celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2013, and some of our current members recently received congratulations for their 20 plus years of dedication! We hold working bees generally on the third Sunday during months of February to November. We also visit Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park for a working bee, and go on a field trip to further our horizons each year. We welcome you to join us!