You’ve seen the signs leading off the main road as you rush between Melbourne and Adelaide. Here’s your chance to explore off the highway and find out a little more about it. Located on the edge of the Little Desert, Wail Nursery was established in 1946 to provide native plants suitable for dry land planting for timber and shelter. It was taken over by Natural Resource Conservation League in 1995 before being privatised in July 2003. The Nursery has a wide selection of native species for home garden and landscaping projects. Its geographic location means that its plants are resistant to the harshest conditions such as frost, salinity or extreme heat.
Wail has attracted many remarkable people who have contributed significantly to its 58 year history. William Middleton was the Forester in Charge from 1959 and then went on to be awarded an Order of Australia for his environmental and conservation vocation. Jane Edmanson, television and radio garden presenter, is patron of Wail Arboretum.
Wail Nursery is surrounded by a 10 hectare Arboretum, with abundant wildlife attracted by the three large dams that supply the nursery. Over 80 species of birds, mammals and reptiles have been sighted. The Arboretum features many mature tree specimens to allow visitors to see the plants in all their glory.
The Arboretum has a walking track with wheelchair access and a picnic ground. For the more adventurous, there are two nature trails that begin at the adjoining Wail State Forest. The cache is located just off a walking track behind the nursery, and is accessible by 2WD along good dirt tracks to within about 100m. BYOP. As usual, please ensure the cache is not visible to other passers-by before you leave.
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