Mary Cairncross Reserve

Glass House Mountains viewed from Mary Cairncross Reserve

The Mary Cairncross Reserve is a conservation park located on the Blackall Range east of Maleny, Australia. Maleny is approximately 88 kilometres (55 mi) north of Brisbane and 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) west of Caloundra. The reserve is positioned in the mountain rainforests of the Maleny region overlooking the Glass House Mountains.

Geology

The Region holds many of the large predominate landforms in Queensland, the most recognisable is the Glass House Mountains. The Glass House Mountains were formed thousands of years ago when the outer layer of soil and rock eroded from the extinct volcanic summit. The dirt and soil located in the region is very rich and healthy, due to the high quantity of volcanic rock decomposed in the soil. Volcanic rock contains high amounts of nutrients.

European history

The coastal regions of Queensland was first discovered by Captain James Cook on 17 May 1770. Between 1770 and 1853 many explores mapped out the inner regions of the coast and named the landforms.

The Mary Cairncross story

The Cairncross Reserve was given to the Landsborough Shire Council in 1941 by three Thynne sisters.^[1] They named the reserve after their mother, Mary Thynne (née Cairncross, born in 1848). Sunshine Coast Regional Council manages and maintains the reserve along with the volunteers that staff the Thynne Natural History Education Centre daily. The reserve is one of the best remaining subtropical rainforest in Australia.^{[citation needed]} The reserve was created to protect the flora and fauna of the Maleny region.

The Rainforest

Mary Cairncross Reserve rainforest

The reserve is a subtropical rainforest. These types of rainforests are mainly located in the north-east parts of Australia. The Cairncross reserve has an area of 530,000 square metres and reaches a peak canopy of 440 m. The main species of tree is the Australian red cedar. Strangler Figs and fungi are some of the environmental elements that the rainforest needs to survive.

Biodiversity

Plants include trees 107 species, herbs 30, vines 50, palms 3, fungi 21, shrubs 26.

Animals include 139 birds notably the Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Brown Cuckoo-Dove, Tree-Creepers, Thornbills, Scrub-Wrens, Green Catbird, 11 marsupials, 3 bats, 20 lizards, 14 snakes, 14 frogs.

See also

Queensland portal

• Protected areas of Queensland

References

1. ^ Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 130. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X. 

Coordinates: 26°46′41.30″S 152°52′50.48″E / 26.778139°S 152.8806889°E / -26.778139; 152.8806889