Donations
All donations to the Friends of Jirdarup Inc for the 12 months from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 will be put towards a memorial for our founder the late Gwynth Schlipalius.
Posts
Helen Brown
Helen Brown has been with the Friends group since the early 2000s and continues to volunteer. She is a great advocate for hands-on Landcare.
The mighty Jarrah
The mighty Jarrah (Noongar name Djarraly) is so much more than its beautiful creamy white flowers, deeply fissured trunk and distinctive leaves edged with a lighter coloured border that give it its name Eucalyptus marginata.
Christmas Tree
The WA Christmas Tree (Nuytsia floribunda) – called the Mundjah or Moojar by Noongar people – is an important landmark in Jirdarup. Christmas Tree corner is well known by locals.
Zamia Study
An excerpt from a study by Curtin University students on the Zamia in Kensington Bushland
Kensington Precinct development update
Public consultation has commenced on the Kensington Precinct which will replace the old government buildings opposite Jirdarup.
Kensington Precinct development update Read More »
Table of Birds
Birds included in this list have been identified from research papers, former Friends member Robert Audcent or in the eBird Hotspot directory. Names of birds are consistent with The Compact Australian Bird Guide, Jeff Davies et al 2022. The likelihood of sighting each bird is listed next to the common name using the following key:
Birds of Jirdarup
This book is for everyone who has an interest in nature and conservation with a will to save our wonderful bird species from further decline in urban areas. It is a pure joy to read. Our gardens can be the corridors that support fauna that is being squeezed out of urban areas and offer a place to breed, feed and bring joy into our lives – Sabrina Hahn
Native grasses
The information here has been provided by Una Bell as part of a workshop conducted for our weeding team on 24 September 2024. Una is widely respected for her knowledge of Western Australia’s native grasses. There are 10 native grasses identified in Jirdarup and 19 introduced species. The 10 native species are listed below. There
Walk with Friends
Regular walks will be back in March 2025. In the meantime, we are happy to organise a walk with your group. Contact us.
The latest on the Sandpit Restoration
Keep up to date with what’s happening at the Kent Street Sandpit, bearing in mind this is a long-term project to restore the Banksia woodlands more than 80 years since excavations began.
The latest on the Sandpit Restoration Read More »
Native daisy
By Clare Caldeira (photos by Emily Harvey) Lagenophora are a small genus of daisies found in Australia, New Zealand and Asia. It is NOT A WEED. On 31 August 2024, our weeders were delighted to discover this forgotten member of our bushland in a biodiverse patch that had been meticulously hand-weeded. The name Lagenophora comes
Klaus Backheuer
Klaus was the chair of the Friends Management Committee for 8 years, from 2016 to 2024. An article in a local newspaper in October 2010 about the Friends of Kensington Bushland made him curious, and it turned out to be a great opportunity to get to know the local bush flora and fauna and to
Timelines for Sandpit restoration
These indicative timelines for the formative stages of the Kent St Sandpit have been agreed between the Town of Victoria Park and Curtin University. Progress on this project depends on the outcomes of scientific trials and the weather. Timelines may therefore change as the work progresses. You can download the full restoration plan here. Please
Timelines for Sandpit restoration Read More »
Our Book about Jirdarup
This delightful coffee table book will inspire you with its photographs and its stories of how a community saved this treasured inner-city Banksia woodlands. It was launched by Mayor Karen Vernon on 16 September 2023.
Our Book about Jirdarup Read More »
Quenda in Jirdarup?
Quenda in Jirdarup? It is almost 20 years since there has been any reported sighting of quenda in Jirdarup. But we are very hopeful they will return. In July 2024, a quenda family was spotted in a Friend’s Kensington garden within a few streets of Jirdarup. At first, the ubiquitous urban rat was suspected but
Quenda in Jirdarup? Read More »
Djerap: Noongar Bird Stories
As their contribution to celebrating NAIDOC Week, the Friends of Jirdarup Bushland launched their new brochure Djerap: Noongar Bird Stories recorded by Noongar Elder Emeritis Professor Dr Lennard M Collard with artwork by Noongar Whadjuk/Yamatji man Ron Gidgup. On 20 July 2024, together with the Town of Victoria Park, the Friends hosted an afternoon of
Djerap: Noongar Bird Stories Read More »
Year 7 goes bush
Year 7 goes bush Kent St Senior High School science teachers took Year 7 students on two field trips to Jirdarup in May 2024 to learn about the importance of bushland areas in the city to provide habitat and foster biodiversity. Students spent time making observations and taking pictures to later identify species of plants,
Gardening for birds
Looking for sources of information about attracting birds to your garden?
Gardening for birds Read More »
Bird Watering Stations
The first Bird Watering Station was installed in 2018. There are now three.
Bird Watering Stations Read More »
Curtin Leads Banksia Woodland Restoration
X-ray scanning of native seeds allows for rapid assessment of seed quality, which is critical in restoration efforts.
Learn more about what is happening in the lab at Curtin University.
Curtin Leads Banksia Woodland Restoration Read More »
Jirdarup at a glance
Presenting Jirdarup in a nutshell for newcomers
Jirdarup at a glance Read More »
Restoration of the Kent St Sandpit
Restoration of the Kent St Sandpit represents a rare opportunity to increase Banksia woodlands in inner-city Perth. In 2043 we expect to see a thriving natural habitat. Photo: Sandpit 2023 by Derrin Kee for the Town of Victoria Park.
Restoration of the Kent St Sandpit Read More »
What’s to love about Jirdarup
Clare will inspire you to visit. Join her in imagining it 100s and 1000s of years ago.
What’s to love about Jirdarup Read More »
Georgina Wilson – Photographer
Georgina has been taking photos in Jirdarup since 2020.
Georgina Wilson – Photographer Read More »
Shaun Fearn – photographer
Shaun has been a regular photographer in Jirdarup since 2017.
Shaun Fearn – photographer Read More »
Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Red-tails with their raucous call and brilliant tail feathers are a favourite for visitors to Jirdarup.
Forest Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo Read More »
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo
Carnaby’s with their melodious wee-la call are a favourite for visitors to Jirdarup.
Carnaby’s Black-Cockatoo Read More »
Rainbow Bee-Eater
Rainbow Bee-eater Merops ornatus Noongar Whadjuk: birin-birin Listen to the Rainbow Bee-eater here. (Sound with permission from graemechapman.com.au) As in the name, the Rainbow Bee-eater is a beautiful bird with the ability to catch bees on the wing without being stung. They knock the sting from the bee on a branch, then consume it. The bird
Our photographers
Thanks to all those people who allow us to share their photographs with the world. Meet some of them here.
Noongar Six Seasons
Learn about the Noongar seasons and get a copy of our poster.
Noongar Six Seasons Read More »
Trees in Jirdarup
In addition to the trees in Kensington Bushland, there are over 500 trees in and around Jirdarup. We have the formula to calculate the age of the Jarrah and Marri.
Balta hebardi – the Bush Cockroach
Meet Balta hebardi, not the five cockroach species plaguing our homes, but one of our very own Bush Cockroaches.
Balta hebardi – the Bush Cockroach Read More »
Tawny Frogmouth
Tawny Frogmouths roosting in the trees at the Harold Rossiter Reserve have become a favourite family for locals. They also feature in Noongar Dreamtime stories. Photo by Veronica McPhail.
Coastal Honeymyrtle
In summer, the Coastal Honeymyrtle, Melaleuca systena, flowers throughout Jirdarup. Photos by Elbia Sylwestrzak and Clare Caldeira.
Coastal Honeymyrtle Read More »
George St Reserve
George St Reserve started out as a sanitary depot. The community became increasingly unhappy about it.
Elbia Sylwestrzak
Without our wonderful volunteers the vital landcare and conservation efforts by the Friends of Jirdarup Bushland would not be possible. We express our gratitude to people like Elbia Sylwestrzak – not only does she take stunning photos of the bushland, particularly the orchids, but she has also given countless hours of her time towards its preservation since
Vicki Caulfield
Vicki has been the go-to person for the Friends for some time, especially since she became the public face of our nature photography competitions in 2020 and 2021. As our events coordinator Vicki has also been the mastermind behind our popular “Walk & Talk” events for almost 5 years. Besides that, she’s been a driving
Jarrah deaths
In 2020, Friends of Jirdarup Bushland first noticed dying trees. They took action and prepared a report asking the Town to investigate the cause.
That is not a weed
It’s important to get to know your weeds. If in doubt, don’t pull it out.
That is not a weed Read More »
