Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary

The Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, near Geelong, was established when the current owner George Belcher’s great grandfather purchased the property in 1856. The Belcher Family has preserved the Sanctuary as valuable and beautiful natural bush land for over a century, and it has become an important area of conservation for our rapidly disappearing flora and fauna.

The Sanctuary is situated adjacent to the Dog Rocks outcrop on the top of a hill in west Batesford, west of Geelong, in Victoria. The Dog Rocks themselves, as well as the rocks in the Sanctuary, are an outcrop of Devonian granite (similar to the You Yangs), intruded some 350 million years ago, the highest point now being just over 100 metres above sea level. Imagine some 15 million years ago, (when the underlying Batesford limestone was being formed), a warm sea extending over and beyond the area with the Dog Rocks forming an island. The nearby limestone quarry has subsequently revealed many sea fossils.

The Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary is an area of 83 hectares with a frontage to the Moorabool River. George and Lit Belcher have generously leased a strip of land beside the river to the City of Greater Geelong for the development of a public footpath. In addition they recently negotiated a covenant with Trust for Nature to ensure that the Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, best described as a large and complex ecology of flora and fauna in open eucalyptus woodland, remains as it is for future generations. The Dog Rocks are also managed and protected by a Trust for Nature Covenant. Trust for Nature, is an independent not-for-profit organisation which protects, manages and conserves biodiversity for future generations.

Current Project:
Caring for our Country

The Batesford-Stonehaven-Fyansford Landcare Group, a small but active membership, and the Geelong Landcare Network, have recently been successful in their application for a grant from the Federal Government’s Caring for our Country initiative, which will enable the ‘Protection and Enhancement of Dog Rocks Flora and Fauna Sanctuary.’ This will assist us to reduce weeds, fuel loads and rabbits, thereby helping to support the Belcher Family to manage and regenerate this precious local flora and fauna habitat.

Batesford-Fyansford-Stonehaven Landcare Group will be holding working bees throughout the year to remove invasive weeds which smother and prevent the regeneration of our precious native vegetation, which in turn supports the bird and animal life. It goes without saying that all our lives are increasingly busy and committed. We understand this. But perhaps you could spare one or two half days a year to help out? We are seeking your assistance in whichever way you, your family or friends may be able to participate. If you would like to help or have more information please click the button above to send us an email.