The original landscape and landscape change

Original landscape (pre-European settlement)
European settlement and changing land use

The original landscape (pre-European settlement)

The vegetation that existed pre-European settlement was a complex mosaic of vegetation associations. Woodlands of salmon gum (Eucalyptus salmonophloia), York gum (E. laxophleba) and wandoo (E. wandoo) with some scrub, heath and thicket created a diverse landscape structure. Heterogeneity present in this landscape was associated with different soil types, rainfall and landform (Saunders et al., 1993). Little is known about the ecology of dominant species at this time, or natural instigators of change.

Salmon Gum 47kb

European settlement and changing land use

Grazing

European settlement started in the Kellerberrin area in the late 1860s. The main agricultural activity was sheep grazing. York gum and jam (Acacia acuminata) woodlands were regarded as being the best pastoral land because of available nutrients and water.

Areas around water holes were put under greater grazing pressure and were more severely affected structurally than others further away from water.

Gold

Gold, discovered east of Kellerberrin in 1888, lead to a rapid influx of people. In 1903 gold mining peaked in this region and then started to decline. To support the region, the government encouraged farming and settlement of areas suitable for cereal production. In 1894 the railway between Northam and Southern Cross was finished and small towns sprang up along the line. Kellerberrin was one such town.

Land classification

Surveyors classified the land for subdivision based on the fertility of the soil relative to the native vegetation. Salmon gum woodlands were classed as indicators of good agricultural land. Subdivisions were laid out in a rectangular pattern which is still visible today.

Land clearance

Land clearance in Kellerberrin is typical of the wheatbelt, but the timing of clearance varies depending on the distance to the railway line.

Woodland areas that would grow good cereals were cleared and cultivated first. By 1920, about 36% of native vegetation had been removed and by the 1960s this figure had risen to 87%. By 1984 only 7% of native vegetation remained (Saunders et al,, 1993).

Disturbance

Disturbance in the wheatbelt during this time largely consisted of the removal of perennial vegetation and the replacement of these perennials with annual crops and pastures.