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Western Face, Dandenong Ranges
VIC - Property No L10098

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National Trust

L10098 Dandenongs

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Statement of Significance
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Statement of Significance

The Western Face of the Dandenong Ranges is of high significance within the Melbourne Region due to its value as:

- an important landmark that is visually prominent throughout much of this region;

- a remnant of the forest that covered the entire range prior to European settlement;

- an area that provides habitat for plant and animal communities that are no longer well represented within the Dandenongs;

- a recreational area for people throughout the Melbourne Region;

- a "fire buffer" area to assist in the protection of the closely settled main ridge of the Range.

LOCATION:

The whole of the western and part of the north-western slopes of the main Dandenong Range stretching from Montrose to the southern boundary of the Ferntree Gully National Park.

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- Western Face, Dandenong Ranges - National Trust
- Physical Description 1
  
  Western Face, Dandenong Ranges - Physical Description 1
  
  Citation
  This landscape includes two major parks, Doongalla Forest Reserve and Ferntree Gully National Park, plus a number of smaller reserves namely, Jennings Reserve, Mt Dandenong Observatory Reserve (excluding the Observatory and its immediate surroundings) and Burke's Lookout Reserve.
  
  The Western Face with its steep to very steep slopes, sharp crests, narrow drainage lines and red-brown gradational soils, is highly characteristic of the Dandenongs land form. The main branch of the Dandenong Creek flows through the Doongalla Forest Reserve. This landscape rises to a height of 624 metres at Mt Corhanwarrabul (also known as Burke's Lookout) and to 640 metres at Mt Dandenong itself.
  
  The western slopes are largely forested. The contrast in micro-climatic conditions between the dry hills and ridges and the wet gullies results in a diverse and interesting range of vegetation communities. Eucalypts dominate throughout, with Messmate and Narrow-leaf Peppermint communities covering the drier areas and often forming the transition between wet and dry sclerophyll vegetation. The wetter areas, mainly the protected slopes and gullies, support magnificent stands of Manna Gum. Other eucalypt species present include some low altitude occurrences of Mountain Ash and Mountain Grey Gum.
  
  The Doongalla Reserve also includes a large exotic garden and lawn area on the site where the Doongalla homestead was previously located.
  
  The remainder of the landscape area mainly consists of The Basin between One Tree Hill and Mt. Corhanwarrabul, containing a series of broad spurs separated by stream gullies, and combining privately owned forest with some small cleared farming areas.
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