Jock Marshall Reserve

Background

The Jock Marshall Reserve (JMR) was established in 1961 by Professor A.J. “Jock” Marshall, the foundation chair of Zoology and Comparative Physiology and an early campaigner for environmental policies such as the planting of native trees on campus.

The Reserve is approximately 8 acres in area including a 3-acre man-made lake. Systematic weed removal and replanting with native species was carried out in the early 1960’s, since which time all plantings have been of native Australian species. Some plants were chosen to resist grazing by the Reserve’s animal populations and may not be indigenous to the Clayton region. During the 1980’s and 1990’s populations of grazing mammals (Tasmanian Pademelons) were built up, which resulted in heavy grazing of the reserve. These animals were removed in 2000, and as a result the Reserve is now a matrix of regenerating scrubland, exotic grass swards and larger native trees. The Reserve is surrounded by an animal-proof fence that protects the wildlife within from dogs, cats and foxes, and also provides a visual and sound barrier along the Blackburn Road boundary.

The lake is supplied was originally 2–3 metres deep at the deepest point (the dam face), but has been heavily affected by siltation and secondary invasion by Typha. The current lake is approximately 80% covered by Typha beds and is 1–2m deep at it’s deepest point.

The existing reserve has a number of natural features which are considered important components of the campus environment.

• The presence of a lightly managed area of vegetation indicative of that present in the Clayton area historically.
• A valuable refuge for many native bird species. Of a total of 53 bird species recorded in informal surveys of the Clayton campus in recent years, 16 have been sighted only in the Reserve.
• The presence of shallow aquatic habitats which are heavily utilised by amphibians and aquatic birds.