Pecks Dam Reserve
This 1.04 hectare reserve is part of a series of smaller reserves throughout Montmorency that form a habitat corridor link. Its main attraction is the dam. It is a mix of conservation and recreation areas, and is managed by Banyule's Bushland Management Unit with assistance from local volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, join the Friends of Montmorency.
Water system
The dam is 664m2 and approximately 8 m deep when full. Over the years it has been used for swimming, fishing, yabbying and boating.
In 2015, Banyule City Council and Melbourne Water completed a project that uses storm water as a rain garden. Rainwater is collected from the streets above the dam and is filtered through the garden. The goal is to replenish water to the dam, which has suffered from drought and water diversion in the past.
History
During the 1890s, the area was a favourite painting place for Heidelberg School artist Walter Withers.
The dam was dug out in the early 1900s to service the surrounding farmland. It is named after the Peck family who lived in a mud brick house next to the dam from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Video
Flora and fauna
The vegetation community here is grassy dry forest/box-stringybark woodland. The remnant vegetation is home to small mammals and birds that shelter and gather food.
Many water birds use the reserve because of the dam. Many frog species have been heard calling from around the dam.
Fauna
| Common name |
Scientific name |
|
Australian magpie
|
Cracticus tibicen
|
|
Australian wood duck
|
Chenonetta jubata
|
|
Brushtail possum
|
Trichosurus vulpecula |
|
Chestnut teal
|
Anas castanea
|
|
Common ringtail possum
|
Pseudocheirus peregrinus
|
|
Eastern blue tongue lizard
|
Tiliqua scincoides
|
|
Little pied cormorant
|
Microcarbo melanoleucos
|
|
Musk lorikeet
|
Glossopsitta concinna
|
|
Pacific black duck
|
Anas superciliosa
|
|
Rainbow lorikeet
|
Trichoglossus moluccanus
|
|
Sugar glider
|
Petaurus breviceps
|
|
Tawny frogmouth
|
Podargus strigoides
|
Flora
| Scientific name |
Common name |
|
Acacia acinacea
|
Gold dust wattle
|
|
Acacia genistifolia
|
Spreading wattle
|
|
Arthropodium strictum
|
Chocolate lily
|
|
Dichondra repens
|
Kidney weed
|
|
Einadia nutans
|
Nodding saltbush
|
|
Eucalyptus melliodora
|
Yellow box
|
|
Goodenia ovata
|
Hop goodenia
|
|
Kennedia prostrata
|
Running postman
|
|
Kunzea leptospermoides
|
Yarra burgan
|
|
Lomandra longifolia
|
Spiny-headed mat rush
|
|
Pultenea pedunculata
|
Matted bush pea
|
|
Rytidosperma sp.
|
Wallaby grass
|
|
Themeda triandra
|
Kangaroo grass
|
|
Tricoryne elatior
|
Yellow Rush lily
|
Location
77 Napier Crescent, Montmorency 3094 View Map
-37.7216193,145.1349612
77 Napier Crescent ,
Montmorency 3094
77 Napier Crescent ,
Montmorency 3094
Pecks Dam Reserve