Volunteer Crown land managers caring for Dundundra Falls Reserve: A few insights
The July Crown Land NSW Updates received this week shared some insights on volunteers with one stemming from an 18 May 2026 update, but worth recording here as we head towards National Tree Day 2026, running next Sunday, and how the ethos there, in 'everyday is tree day', extends to all those who look after and restore our local bushland reserves through the numerous local Bushcare, Crown Land, Floating Bushcare and Landcare Groups and the sustained efforts of their volunteers.
For those who want to contribute to the restoration of those areas by getting their hands in the dirt, the full list of Pittwater Bushcare Groups is listed on the PON Environment page - just scroll further down.
That insight is:
Years of sustained effort by volunteer Crown land managers have helped protect and preserve Dundundra Falls Reserve, creating a special place for the community to enjoy nature just minutes from suburban life in northern Sydney (at Terrey Hills).
Spanning around 40 hectares, Dundundra Falls Reserve is a place where bushland, creeks and waterfalls come together to create a unique environment for people and wildlife alike. The reserve offers opportunities for walking, dog-walking, horse riding and bike riding, while providing important habitat for native plants, birds and animals.
The reserve is currently cared for by an all-female board of dedicated Crown land manager volunteers who give their time to bush regeneration, weed control and caring for wildlife habitat - helping ensure the Crown reserve remains healthy, welcoming and resilient.
Bush regeneration work focuses on removing invasive weeds and supporting the return of native plants, with volunteers working in different areas of the reserve throughout the year.
Chairperson Sally White has been involved with Dundundra Falls Reserve for more than 25 years and has seen the long-term benefit of consistent care, with volunteers taking a careful approach to protecting wildlife while restoring the land.
Board members, including Glenda Spresser and Tracey Poulter, said their motivation for volunteering comes from a deep personal connection to the reserve and a desire to see it protected for the future.
Chairperson of the Dundundra Falls Reserve Crown land manager board, Sally White, said:
"I've seen areas that were once completely overrun with weeds slowly return to beautiful bushland.
"It didn't happen overnight - it's the result of years of volunteers turning up and caring for this place.
"There was an area we used to call the bird sanctuary because so many small birds lived there.
"We reduced the weeds gradually, making sure the birds still had somewhere to live. Now they're thriving in native plants instead, and the area looks incredible."
Katie Leonardi, Secretary of the Dundundra Falls Reserve Crown land manager board, said:
"We come out once a month with our bush care group, and everything we do is volunteer-led.
"It's a huge area to look after, so without volunteers it simply wouldn’t be possible to keep this Crown land healthy and protected."
Minister for Lands and Property, Steve Kamper, said:
"Crown land managers are at the heart of how our public reserves are cared for and protected.
"These volunteers take on real responsibility - managing land, restoring natural environments and making sure Crown land remains open, safe and welcoming for community use.
"The work being done by Crown land managers at Dundundra Falls Reserve shows the difference local knowledge, long -term commitment and community pride can make.
"Their efforts help ensure Crown land continues to deliver lasting benefits for the community and the environment, now and for future generations."
Dundundra Falls Reserve volunteers. Photo: NSW Government
To make a difference by volunteering on Crown land in your community, find out how to get involved and view current volunteer board vacancies by visiting Get involved.
Want to have a look around? Visit: Dundundra Falls Reserve - Photographs By Selena Griffith from 2020, Issue 463
A few Background Notes
Dundundra Falls Reserve is a 40 hectare Crown Land reserve in Terrey Hills. It was notified for the purpose of Public Recreation on January 11th, 1935:
Sydney, 11th January, 1935.
REVOCATION OP RESERVES FROM SALE, LEASE, Etc.
IT is hereby notified that under the provisions of section 30 of the Crown Lands Consolidation Act, 1913, the reserves from sale, lease, etc., hereunder described, are hereby revoked.
E. A. BUTTENSHAW, Minister for Lands.
Land District. Reserve No. Purpose Date of Notification Parish County Shire Area (acres/perches) Part revoked Papers
REVOCATION OF RESERVES FROM SALE, LEASE, ETC. (1935, January 11). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), p. 178. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224745340
For insights into the 1881 proposal to have a railway from Lane Cove/Gordon to Pittwater, visit History page: Roads To Pittwater: The Mona Vale Road
“Dundundra” was a pastoral station in the Southern Highlands of NSW near Bombala from 1848 that had formerly been known as “Chain-of-ponds,” (Gazette) which may be a clue to its renaming with the Aboriginal language word “dundundra” subsequently recorded in 1904 in that area as meaning “rapid or waterfall”. Later listings of “dundundra” (eg. Thorpe) have only the meaning of “waterfall,” without any reference to the source of the word.
ASSIGNMENT OF NAME TO A RESERVE TRUST
PURSUANT to Paragraph 4 (3) of Schedule 8 to the Crown Lands Act 1989, the name specified in Column 1 of the Schedule is assigned to the reserve trust constituted as trustee for the reserve specified in Column 2 of the Schedule.
File No.: MN80R291.
GEORGE SOURIS,M.P.,
Minister for Land and Water Conservation.
SCHEDULE
COLUMN 1
Dundundra Falls (R .65042) Reserve Trust (as at 19 July 1994).
COLUMN 2
Reserve No. 65042 for the public purpose of public recreation at Terrey Hills, notified in the Government Gazette of 11 January 1935.
ASSIGNMENT OF NAME TO A RESERVE TRUST (1994, August 19). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), p. 4463. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231945513
The Reserve is home to a variety of plant habitat, native animals and birds as well as, as the name implies, waterfalls. Kieriens creek makes its way through the reserve and meets up with Neverfail Creek with a series of falls and cascades along the way.
The reserve is located on the southern side of Aumuna Road Terrey Hills. A fire trail, Larool Trail, runs along the eastern boundary connecting Aumuna Road to the southern part of Larool Road. It adjoins Dardabong Reserve which contains aboriginal rock carving to the south.
On Friday August 17th, 2018 then Member for Pittwater, Rob Stokes, announced Dundundra Falls Reserve at Terrey Hills has been awarded NSW Government funding to assist with the protection of its spectacular native bushland.
A grant of $77,505 was provided under the NSW Government’s Restoration and Rehabilitation Program to help preserve and enhance the reserve’s native vegetation and fauna habitat.
See: Funding For Dundundra Falls Reserve - 2018, Issue 372
The bush regeneration group meets on the first Sunday of the month 8:30-11:30am (warm seasons - get the work done before the heat) 9:00-12:00 (cooler seasons). All are welcome to join in, although initial contact should be done via email. Training in bush re-gen and OH&S is provided.
Send them an email at: Dundundrafalls@gmail.com, or contact the group by original mail at: PO Box 381, Terrey Hills, NSW 2084. Bushcare Group details and more are available at: https://dundundrafalls.weebly.com/
