HomeFirst Falls History

First Falls Project History

The Main Gorge of the Morialta Conservation Park site is the most visited area of the park. It has had a long history of works performed along it, many long before this project was set up. An attempt to capture the volunteer works which have gone before has been made against each section below, where the details are known.

The Friends of Black Hill and Morialta members hosted the first restoration event for this current project 14th November 2012.

native storksbill
(Pelargonium australe)

angled lobelia
(Lobelia anceps)

cutting grass
(Gahnia trifida)

garland lily
(Calostemma purpureum)

Base of Falls and Boardwalk

November 2012 first FOBHM works clearing weeds from the boardwalk area.
2013-2022 FOBHM followup works continue. Weeds mostly eliminated from this site include watsonia, fennel and Tangier pea.
2015 contractor works to remove weeds in areas too steep for volunteers.
2015 all willows in creekline treated.

Before image - May 2013 falls end of boardwalk

After image - February 2022

End of Boardwalk

November 2012 first FOBHM works clearing weeds on the southern end of the boardwalk area.
2013 Some plantings commenced to help speed up the restoration. These have been successful above the creekline.
2013-2022 FOBHM followup works continue. Fennel, rice millet, rhamnus and willows mostly eliminated from this site now.
2014 all blackberry removed from southern slope at end of boardwalk.
2015 all willows in this area of creekline treated.
2016 all blackberry between the creek and the track at the end of the boardwalk treated.

Before image - May 2014 Blackberry at end of boardwalk

After image - February 2022

Below Cliffline - the area higher above the walking track on the southern slope beside the falls

2013 FOBHM commenced works through this area primarily targeting broom, boneseed and Cootamundra wattle.
2014 FOBHM treated spreading Corymbia ficifolia.
2015 Contractor works did extensive woody weed removal through the area, targeting blackberry, rice millet, olives and large boneseed.
2019 wonga wonga vine removal exposes and large wet area with a healthy population of native bare twig rush.
2020 last of the large olives and sweet pittosporum remaining below the cliffline treated.
2015-2022 FOBHM continue to perform followup works where volunteers are able to access this steep site.

Before image - September 2014 blackberry at base of cliffs

After image - September 2022, great regeneration of native species

Creekline to Last Bridge

2016 primary removal of blackberry along the creekline focusing on the southern side of the creek.
2017 dog rose eliminated from the southern side of this site.
2019 primary removal of accessible blackberry on the northern side of the creek.
2020-2022 FOBHM followup works continue. Fennel and willows mostly eliminated from this site.

Before image - June 2018 Tangier pea and Blackberry at the last bridge

After image - February 2022 fabulous regeneration of riparian plants

Between last and 2nd last bridges

2020 FOBHM commence primary blackberry removal through this area.
2021-22 FOBHM primary blackberry and other weed sweeps continue.

Banksia Grove

Prior 2009 Greening Australia performed extensive rhamnus control in this location.
2017 summer. Green Army team performed extensive woody weed removal in this area. In particular treatment of mature fig, large stands of arundo (bamboo), rhamnus followup and blackberry removal.
2017 FOBHM commence weed sweeps.
2018-22 FOBHM weed sweeps continue.

Before image - May 2012 Banksia Grove with bamboo, rhamnus and blackberry

After image - February 2022

First Falls project Main Gorge

1989 - 2019 the Pembroke School community care program ran in different locations including in the Main Gorge. This project took groups of students into various sections of the valley planting and weeding until 2019. The project then transferred to the Horsnell Gully Conservation park as options for students had reduced and it was felt that both better learning conditions and environmental outcomes would be achieved there.
2012 FOBHM commence weed sweeps on the way through to First Falls.
2013-22 FOBHM weed sweeps continue.
2015 all willows from First Falls to the car park treated.
2016 all Ash from the Falls to the car park treated.
2020 all bamboo between the Falls and the car park treated and all accessible introduced wattles species removed from the creekline.

Before image - May 2012 in main gorge

After image - February 2022 after work by Track volunteers, Friends members, and the Pembroke Community Care programme.

1915 the area including Morialta's First Falls was declared a National Pleasure resort. A European style of gardens was planted along the walk way to the falls.
1931 Major flood event destroying bridges and paths.
1981 Major flood event again sweeping away bridges and destroying the car park, roads and trails as well as the amenities block. The creek line was stripped bare of vegetation, leaving only the sturdiest of trees behind. Many of the poplars were washed away by this flood event. The then National Parks and Wildlife Service took this event as an opportunity to restore the native vegetation to the base of the gorge and for some years there was a program of replanting the gorge with the help from a number of community groups.
2016 Last major flood event September 2016.
2016 Peregrine falcons long known to nest in the area returned to the First Falls nesting site having not been observed nesting here for a number of years. They have been observed nesting here or below Deep View lookout each spring since then.

barking gecko
main gorge, September 2017

peregrine falcon with rainbow lorikeet
First Falls cliffs, October 2017

red bellied black snake with eastern banjo frog
end of boardwalk, January 2022