Hawkesbury
Sandstone is the surface bedrock of the greater Sydney basin. It covers an area
of approximately 17,100 square kilometres . Two hundred million years ago, mountain ranges
in Antarctica were eroded and produced vast quantities of sand. This was
carried by a huge river system across southern Australia from Antarctica (then
part of Gondwanaland). These sands were deposited into the Sydney basin where
they were consolidated into sandstone up to 50 metres thick . This sandstone is the
basis of the nutrient-poor soils found in Sydney which developed over millenia
and 'came to nurture a spectacularly diverse range of plants. “It is a singular
fact that in Australia the most brilliant flowers are found on the most
worthless country” wrote A.G. Hamilton in 1930.
The fact that the impoverished
soils were not suitable for agriculture means that large areas, around the
city, have been conserved into modern times.
But now, urban sprawl is sadly taking its toll. Foreign invasive weeds
are thriving on all the nitrates and phosphorus washed into the bushland from
our roads and gardens but the highly evolved natives, which can’t survive high
nutrient levels, are being decimated. The gardening “experts” meanwhile encourage
us to fertilize and spray our back yards at every given opportunity which
compounds the situation. They’ll also try and seduce you into purchasing
commercially created, hybrid “natives” which are both expensive and unauthentic
(they might even impact negatively on the gene pools of genuine endemic plants.
It’s
not too late to grow some Hawkesbury Sandstone “originals” though. Firstly acquire
them from a reputable indigenous plant nursery or from your local Council. They are much cheaper, require no fertilizers
or pesticides and are perfectly adapted to local soil and climatic conditions.
Whack them in your, non macro-nutrient enhanced, patch of dirt. Then, sit back, enjoy and feel a closer connection to the natural world! Here
are some wonderful examples of native plants currently in bloom on Sydney’s
Northern Beaches which would look
glorious in your garden (if you live around here).
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| Epacris Longiflora (Native Fuschia) |
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| Grevillea Speciosa (Red Spider Flower) |
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| Hakea Sericea (Bushy Needlebush) |
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| Hibbertia Scandens (Golden Guinea Flower) |
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| Acacia Longifolia (Sydney Golden Wattle) |
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| Woollsia Pungens (Snow Wreath) |
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| Dendrobium Speciosum (Rock Lily, Rock Orchid) |
This book by Les Robinson is a fantastic resource and contains a wealth of valuable info.
