Stony Range Botanic Garden

Stony Range is a regional botanic garden specialising in Australian native plants. This 3.3 hectare oasis is located at Dee Why in the heart of the northern beaches, just 16km from Sydney's CBD. The garden is jointly managed by Warringah Council and a Volunteer Advisory Committee.

Stony Range Botanic Garden

• 369 Pittwater Rd, Dee Why
• Open 8am to 5pm, seven days a week (except Christmas Day)

• Admission free
• Barbecues and picnic tables available
• Limited parking
• Buses to Dee Why leave regularly from the city, Manly and Palm Beach

Intricate walkways take visitors to a variety of microclimates in the garden. The main circuit takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. There are also side tracks for the energetic and inquisitive, and a smaller, wheelchair-accessible loop track. Click on the link for a map of the garden.

Regenerated and Revegetated

In the 1950s, Stony Range was a disused stone quarry. Had it not been for a few visionary locals with a green thumb, the reserve may never have been established as a native garden of botanical beauty.

Since it was opened, Stony Range has been extensively weeded, regenerated and revegetated by a enthusiastic group of volunteers with the aid of public donations and funding from Council. Native plants from all over Australia have been planted in the garden alongside local indigenous species.

Fabulous Flora, Fascinating Fungi, Interesting Insects

Spring is the best time to view the vivid colours of the garden's fabulous floral displays. However, the beauty of the garden is breathtaking all year round. There is always something to enjoy.

Discover the fascinating fungi, search for interesting insects, birds and animals, reflect in the sparkling waterfalls, contemplate in the peaceful atmosphere of the rainforest, scramble through the heathland scrub, and turn back the clock in the primitive plant section.

Microclimates

Stony Range Botanic Garden has several microclimates: the rainforest gully, the sandstone heath, and the lush ecosystem of the Federation Cascades.

After half a century of growth, the rainforest gully is regarded as one of Alec Blombery's (one of the garden's founding members) greatest achievements in the reserve. When Stony Range was first created, the area along the main creekline was badly infested with the noxious weeds such as lantana and privet. Today, it is a cool oasis populated with cedar, coachwood, flame trees, hoop pine, lilly pilly, ferns and palms.

The site of the sandstone heath in the upper area of the reserve was part of the stone quarry which was reclaimed with soil fill. Today there is a collection of grasses, grevilleas and baeckias which all create a picturesque display at different times of the year.

The waterfalls that form the Federation Cascades were constructed by volunteers in 2001 to commemorate 100 years of Federation in Australia. Click on the link for more on the cascades.

History of the Garden

1800s: The reserve's steep rock formations save the land from being auctioned off as farm lots. It is later used as a stone quarry.

1957: The abandoned stone quarry is established as a native garden by a group of 'green' volunteers, lead by the visionary Joe Corkery and Alec Blombery. Stony Range Reserve is given its name because it sits on 3.3 hectares of Hawkesbury Sandstone escarpment.

1961: The reserve is officially opened on September 2 by the Hon. KC Compton, Minister for Lands.

1969: The decorative pond is officially opened by Warringah Shire President, Councillor Huntingdon.

1971: New gates to celebrate the reserve's 10th anniversary are opened on August 22 by the Governor of NSW, Sir Roden Cutler.

2001: The volunteer constructed Federation Cascades water feature is opened.

2007: Stony Range Flora and Fauna Reserve receives official acknowledgement by the NSW Regional Botanic Gardens Network and is renamed Stony Range Botanic Garden.

Stony Range Volunteers

Stony Range volunteers are both young and old - there are activities to suit all levels of participation. If you would like to become a volunteer, show up on a Tuesday morning between 10am and 12noon or Saturday afternoon between 2-4pm and one of our regulars will show you around. A free introductory course for Friends of the Bush volunteers is run by Warringah Council. Volunteers maintain the gardens with plants propagated from seeds and cuttings in the garden's nursery. Surplus plants are for sale on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons. The volunteers also hold an annual spring festival every year.

Bookings

Stony Range Botanic Garden can be booked for small functions such as weddings. A decorative pond separates the purpose-built stage from the seating. For more information contact Warringah Council's Reserves Booking Co-ordinator on 9942 2545 or email ritcha@warringah.nsw.gov.au.

 

All photos courtesy of Andre Porteners - a volunteer and committee member of Stony Range Botanic Garden.