In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

Emergency Contact

triple zero 000

ACT Public Hospitals

Canberra Hospital

6201 6111

Mental Health

Call Mental Health Triage on

1800 629 354

(free call except from mobiles or public phones) or

6205 1065

Poisons Hotline

For a poison emergency in Australia call

13 11 26

Drug and Alcohol Help Line

The Drug and Alcohol Help Line is available 24-hours, 7 days a week on

5124 9977

Health Protection Service

For after hours urgent public health matters including environmental health, radiation safety, food poisoning and communicable disease management phone:

1800 022 222

ACT State Emergency Service

Emergency help
during flood or storms

13 25 00

Percival Hill Nature Reserve is an 81-hectare protected area lying between Ginninderra Creek and the suburb of Nicholls in the south-west of the District of Gungahlin.

Percival Hill Nature Reserve is connected to the broader vegetated landscape along the Ginninderra Creek corridor.

Cycling is permitted on management trails only.

Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only.

No horses allowed.

Natural values

Percival Hill Nature Reserve protects:

a large population of the endangered Hoary Sunray (Leucochrysum albicans)
the rare Black Mountain Donkey Orchid (Diuris nigromontana)
areas of critically endangered Yellow Box–Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland
habitat for the vulnerable Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar)

Percival Hill Nature Reserve is protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Thank you for taking care of the natural environment.

Add a sighting to the NatureMapr or visit the Canberra Birds website.

Things to do

Activities

Features

Dogs on-leash
NO BINS – take your rubbish with you
Walking track/s

Restricted or prohibited

Aircraft landing/take-off prohibited
Camping prohibited
Chainsaw use prohibited
Domestic animals (other than dogs) prohibited
Off-road driving prohibited
Driving on management trails prohibited
Drone use prohibited
Fires prohibited
Wood and timber collection prohibited
Horses prohibited
Metal detector use prohibited
Trailbikes prohibited except on public roads

Dogs are permitted on-leash on a track or trail only
Cycling is permitted on management trails only

Ngunnawal Country and People

Percival Hill Nature Reserve is located on Ngunnawal Country, an ancient and diverse landscape managed and cared for by Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years.

For time immemorial Ngunnawal people have maintained a tangible and intangible cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to these lands and waters.

Several Aboriginal heritage sites including stone artefact scatters are recorded on the ACT Heritage Register within Percival Hill Nature Reserve. It is likely that other, as-yet-unrecorded Aboriginal heritage sites are protected within the reserve.

All Aboriginal places and objects in the ACT are protected under the Heritage Act 2004 and must not be disturbed. Aboriginal places and objects within reserves are additionally protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. Anyone finding an (unregistered) Aboriginal object or place has an obligation to report it to the Heritage Council.

European heritage

Sheep grazing began in 1826 with the arrival of pastoral settlers including George Thomas Palmer, whose property included Percival Hill. His successor William Davis organised fireworks to be launched from the hilltop for 200 guests in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of Prince Edward.

From 1860, fences were constructed and continuous sheep stocking commenced in large paddocks. From 1920 to 1925, large, old or dead trees were felled for firewood for the Canberra market.

Some pasture improvement has been undertaken in the area, affecting the extent and diversity of native grassland.

Percival Hill Nature Reserve was established in 2006.

Before you go/How to get there

Before you go

Prepare by understanding safety and checking alerts.

Respect Canberra Nature Park reserves by:

staying on the tracks to minimise your impact
taking your rubbish home with you
leaving what you find, including plants, animals, rocks and timber (dead and alive)
respecting our heritage - leave cultural sites undisturbed
riding safely and following trail etiquette as a bicycle rider
collecting and responsibly disposing of your dog's droppings (where dogs are permitted)
cleaning your outdoor gear, including bicycles, to avoid spreading weeds and disease

Remember:

bring your own drinking water
carry a mobile phone, especially if you are on your own
let someone know where you are going and when you'll return
be bushfire alert - on total fire ban days some reserves may be closed

How to get there

Percival Hill Nature Reserve is accessible from various locations in Nicholls.

The reserve is one of few areas in the ACT where the highly invasive weed species Spanish Heath (Erica lusitanica) has established. Access to the area of infestation at the south-west end of the reserve is restricted to avoid spreading the weed.

Boundary mapping is indicative only.

More information

If you notice any issues during your visit:

report maintenance issues to Access Canberra
report vandalism or other illegal activities to the police on 131 444
in an emergency, call 000

Find out about:

In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

triple zero 000

5124 0000

6201 6111

1800 629 354

6205 1065

13 11 26

5124 9977

(02) 6205 1700

1800 022 222

13 25 00

Percival Hill Nature Reserve

Natural values

Things to do

Activities

Features

Restricted or prohibited

Ngunnawal Country and People

European heritage

Before you go

How to get there

More information