Jarramlee-West MacGregor Grasslands Nature Reserve

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Emergency help
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Jarramlee–West MacGregor Grasslands Nature Reserve is a 145-hectare protected area on the north-western border of the ACT. The reserve extends from a small hill, Stony Knob, down to the minor floodplains of Ginninderra and Gooromon Ponds creeks.

The grasslands in the Jarramlee–West MacGregor area, in neighbouring parts of NSW, and in nearby Dunlop (including Dunlop Grasslands Nature Reserve) form a large, contiguous habitat for threatened, grassland-dependent species such as the Golden Sun Moth. Connectivity is being improved through restoration activities.

Passive, low-impact recreation activities, such as walking and birdwatching using existing tracks, are compatible with the sensitive natural values of this reserve.

The National Trail traverses the reserve, entering from the south and eventually exiting across the border, northward into NSW. Horse riding is permitted only on the National Trail.

Cycling is also permitted only on the National Trail.

A significant section of the south-eastern ('West MacGregor') block of this reserve is under rural lease and not presently accessible to the public. A small section of the main block of the reserve is subject to subsidence and is formally closed to the public under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 whilst remediation work is planned.

No dogs allowed.

Natural values

Jarramlee–West MacGregor Grasslands Nature Reserve protects:

part of the second-largest recorded population of the endangered Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana) in the ACT – in combination with adjacent NSW grasslands, this area is one of the region's largest Golden Sun Moth habitats
patches of critically endangered Natural Temperate Grassland, forming one of the few known habitats of the rare and locally endemic Canberra Raspy Cricket (Cooraboorama canberrae)
a small area of woodland and some pre-existing native tree plantings – utilised by threatened and regionally declining woodland birds

Friends of Grasslands work to build community support for grassy ecosystem recovery, including in Jarramlee–West MacGregor Grasslands Nature Reserve.

Jarramlee–West MacGregor Grasslands 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

NO BINS – take your rubbish with you

Restricted or prohibited

Aircraft landing/take-off prohibited
Camping prohibited
Chainsaw use prohibited
Dogs 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
Metal detector use prohibited
Trailbikes prohibited except on public roads

Horse riding is permitted only on the National Trail
Cycling is permitted only on the National Trail

Ngunnawal Country and People

Jarramlee–West MacGregor Grasslands 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.

The reserve protects 13 Aboriginal heritage sites listed on the ACT Heritage Register, including stone artefacts occurring individually and in scatters on the surface, and is likely to contain further, as-yet-unrecorded Aboriginal heritage sites.

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.

In 2023, a cultural garden was established at Jarramlee-West MacGregor Grasslands Nature Reserve to showcase the area's rich cultural and ecological significance.

In collaboration with Transport Canberra and City Services, a Ngunnawal interpretation space and native 'entry garden' has been created. This includes breakout spaces showcasing carved seating logs and boulders with engraved locally native animal and plant totems such as the wedge-tailed eagle and platypus (or Maliyan and Mallungunng in Ngunnawal language).

There is also a large central ground map, which is an interactive space that interprets the continuing connection Ngunnawal people have to the native grasslands, river systems and mountain ranges of the region.

European heritage

Once settled by Europeans in the mid-19th century, the area was primarily used as grazing land and, in 1924, part of the current reserve was allocated through the Soldier Settlement Scheme to returned soldier Harrold Bingley.

The reserve includes previously cultivated lands on the river flat either side of Ginninderra Creek, and an old fencepost, likely part of the original fence constructed along the ACT-NSW border in the 1920s.

Stony Knob - the highest point of the reserve at 590 metres above sea level - was used as a trigonometric survey point by Percy Sheaffe and his survey team in February 1911 in establishing the proposed ACT border line between Mount Coree and One Tree Hill.

The reserve was established in 2016 as an environmental offset.

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 horse rider
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

The National Trail, which traverses the reserve continuing into NSW, can be accessed from:

the Parkwood Horse Paddocks
Hilda Kincaid Crescent in MacGregor
Hugh McKay Crescent in Dunlop

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