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practice from the boardwalk. From the boardwalk one can see the southern part of the reserve, the lagoon entrance and North
Wollongong. From here it crosses the creek at a wooden bridge and turns into a track on the other side. In high tide and flood conditions this small portion may flood. From here it goes left (north), following the east side of the creek through she-oak woodland and other common coastal plants before going towards the coast through coastal banksia and acacia growth. Then it returns to the creek until it reaches the split to two paths heading to Fairy Meadow Beach picnic area. The left hand one goes along the creek and to a bridge that reaches a small island with a picnic area in the creek, the second up a five or so metre high hill and along through coastal bush. Benches for bird watching and enjoying nature may be found along the path at several intervals. The right hand track to the picnic ground has excellent 360 degree views of the plain, sea and the escarpment.
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the top where it would trickle down through the wooden structure filled with tightly packed tea tree brush-wood branches until it reached several evaporation basins for heating and final salt extraction. Remnants of these basins, Puckey's house, wall and jetty, and the cement base of the tower, are still visible. Puckey had previously experimented with similar saltworks at
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and other native plants. In the extreme southern end are two pine trees. Also in the southern end is a third prominent tree jutting from the normal height of the bush, clearly visible from the other side of the lagoon at Stuart Park. Along the creek and immediately about it a wetland environment is
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Courtney Puckey, bought the area of land known today as Puckey's Estate by 1905 and set about constructing his saltworks. Puckey's graduation tower stood at 9.15 metres (30.0 feet) high and used a centuries-old process to extract salt. A wind powered pump at the lagoon entrance pumped salt water to
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Birds are common here and over 136 species have been recorded, including pelican, ibis, spoonbill, heron, raven and others. Lizards abound and include skinks and bluetongues. Rabbits, a foreign pest, also abound in large numbers. Possums are also present. many species of insect and spider reside
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starts (from south to north) at the boardwalk beginning at the northern end of the bridge over Fairy Creek, part of Squire's Way and following a route hugging the northwest side of the lagoon for a hundred metres or so. At this section there are several wooden seats and fishing is a not uncommon
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From the entrance sign another track forms. This one goes to the beach to the east, and several minor tracks branch from it to history plaques, picnic areas and seats, including a seat under a prominent pine at the lagoon edge from where views of
Wollongong can be had, and the sites of Puckey's
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Puckey's Estate was traditionally used by the Wadi Wadi people, the
Aboriginal tribe in Wollongong. It was once owned by a Mr Courtney Puckey for use as an experimental saltworks and still contains the historic site of Puckey's graduation tower and house, a jetty site he built and plaques on
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The reserve is also locally famous for its bird-watching opportunities, having over 120 species recorded. It is important to local flora and fauna, but is also the scourge (dealt with by local volunteer groups) of
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Littering has becomes a major problem here. At high tide or in flood conditions litter collects at the shore revealing the problem. Currently a plan is being made by council to stop this by using litter stoppers.
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present, attracting spoonbills and herons as well as the odd ibis. This area is dominated by
Casuarina (She-Oak) and reed grasses, deadly nightshade and other grasses, as well as ground dwelling plants such as
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The area is used by many locals and visitors as a recreation area. It is also used for education purposes; schools and community groups work there, and on some days including
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The reserve contains several examples of ecosystem. On the eastern side adjacent to Fairy Meadow Beach there is a dune environment dominated by the invasive
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constructions and the remnants of his house and saltworks. This area has two prominent pines which can be seen from North
Wollongong.
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and is bounded by Fairy Meadow Beach to the east, Squires Way to the west, Elliotts Road to the north and Fairy
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Bushcare groups are tackling weed infestations. Weeds that have become a problem are
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can be viewed. Cyclists generally take the paved
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and native bean plants. Also prevalent is a large amount of
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Puckey's is managed as a separate section (annexe) of the
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aboriginal and
European historic uses for the area.
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352:The Wilderness Society – Hands off Puckey's Estate
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370:Microsoft Word – Groundsel bush RMP 02-07.doc.doc
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258:Lagoon and boardwalk seen from Squires Way bridge
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395:Picture of Puckey's saltworks from lagoon
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442:Botanical gardens in New South Wales
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452:Nature reserves in New South Wales
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231:View from bridge across creek
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