The native shrub that gives the Rock Correa Walk at Dookie’s Tallis Cellar Door its name is being re-established in areas along the track route.
Goulburn Broken CMA Cultural Heritage Co-ordinator Gaye Sutherland said Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation’s Woka Walla work crew had recently planted out 200 young rock correa shrubs on the Tallis property.
“Rock correa was once widespread across the hills in this region, and can withstand quite harsh conditions, but grazing and clearing has depleted the populations,’’ Ms Sutherland said.
“Fortunately, because they’re pretty hardy, small numbers can still be found in rocky crevices where grazing animals can’t get to them. The Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank sourced cuttings from three different local populations and grew them out ready for planting this spring.”
Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, the Goulburn Broken CMA and Tallis Wine worked together in the past to develop the Rock Correa Interpretive Walk, which was officially opened during last year’s Shepparton Arts Festival.
As well as planting rock correa along the walk and around the cellar door, some of the shrubs were planted out in a grassy woodlands site that the Tallis family have protected through a Trust for Nature covenant.
“Development of the walk and the revegetation project have been great collaborative efforts,” Ms Sutherland said. “The walk is a popular tourist attraction, which is good for the region’s economy, while re-establishing native species improves the biodiversity of this beautiful part of the catchment. These activities have also provided opportunities for Traditional Owners to share and celebrate their cultural heritage and work on this important part of Country.”
These activities are supported through the Goulburn Broken CMA, Tallis Wine, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seedbank through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme.