The 1960s saw a period of prolonged drought within Australia which exacerbated the significant pressures already experienced by many native Australian animals in the face of land clearing and other human activities following Anglo-European settlement.
1958-1968: This drought was most widespread and probably second to the 1895-1903 drought in severity. For more than a decade from 1957, drought was consistently prominent and frequently made news head-lines from 1964 onwards. This was treated as one major drought period, but could be subdivided into two which overlapped, both in time and space. Central Australia and vast areas of adjacent Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, and northern Australia were affected, with varying intensity, 1957-66; and south eastern Australia experienced a severe drought, 1964-68. Australian Bureau of Statistics Website, 1301.0, Year Book Australia, 1988 “Major Droughts in Australia”
In response to the dire situation of the hairy-nosed wombats in the Blanchetown area of South Australia, the Natural History Society launched a public appeal to raise funds for the purpose of establishing a sanctuary for these animals. The following text is from a Natural History Society flier from March 1968 providing an explanation and early update on the appeal:
THE HAIRY-NOSED WOMBAT
Owing to the drought, the numerous colonies of the hairy-nosed wombat are rapidly dying out, and the Natural History Society has undertaken to establish a Wild Life Reserve at Portee. An option on 3,000 acres has been obtained.
The Hairy-nosed wombat – or the Dryland Wombat – is a quaint little creature, who would have delighted the eyes of Walt Disney. He has few or no vices, is very easy to tame, very clean in his personal habits, and engagingly friendly when tamed.
He is a fascinating pet and great fun to watch at play. Have one career between your legs as you stand watching him and his mate race around! You are immediately aware of a very definite personality and a degree of reasoning quite lacking in his arboreal counterpart, the Koala bear.
It is on record that a wombat learned to slide open a door in three days, where a dog in the same household took two weeks. Their habit of burrowing entails a cement floor for their home, but a grassed run for them to romp and dig in enables the proud owner to show them off to perfection.
Once established on Kangaroo pellets the feeding problem will vanish but this stabilisation takes time and a very considerable knowhow. Also, wombats are protected animals, and need the permission of the Fisheries & Fauna Conservation Department before they may be kept in captivity. So it is not possible to decide to get a wombat as a pet and go ahead with the project without further planning.
UNLESS WE ACT NOW
The hairy-nosed wombat is listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, in their revised June 1967 main list of the worlds recommended rare and endangered mammals. They were once common to South Australia, but are now only to be found in any large numbers on the Nullabor Plains. Unless we do something they will be extinct in South Australia within the next 50 years. A few isolated colonies have been discovered on Yorke Peninsula, and small colonies are still fighting for existence in the Blanchetown area, but are gradually being poisoned, shot and gassed, if not dying of starvation. Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Conquest, of Somerton Park, have been interested in this friendly and harmless herbivorous marsupial, and have made a study of it over the years. They have tried in this period to interest the learned Societies in providing a Wildlife Reserve for sanctuary for these endangered native Australians. Unfortunately their efforts to interest the Government in providing a reserve on Portee Station have not to date produced any tangible results. So the Conquests at last turned to the Natural History Society of S.A. Incorporated for help in a last-minute attempt to save and establish colonies of the hairy-nosed wombat known as Lasiorhinus latifrons latifrons (Owen 1845).
Members of the Natural History Society immediately made arrangements with Mr. and Mrs. Conquest to visit the area, and see the wombats in their local habitat. On December 29th, 1967, a visit was made by a number of interested members who were available, and the whole area of the Portee Station was explored, many wombats sighted. Several were caught and given a drink of water and freed again.
It was then decided to get permission from the Fauna Conservation Department for individuals to take these starving, dying wombats into their homes, and try to keep them alive. It was apparent to the Conquests that they would have to be trained to eat other foods than the grasses they find on this drought-ridden station. Artificial stimulants in the form of injections of vitamins were necessary, and very soon an appeal was made through the courtesy of Channel 2 for individuals to act as foster parents to these starving animals. A group of our members in the River towns undertook to provide the necessary safe domicile, and to give them every attention, and in this way we have managed to save some, but only a few. On every visit to Portee since December last, we have found fewer and fewer wombats, and it is obvious from the blowflies coming out of the warrens that many have died of malnutrition in their burrows. The area which the owner of Portee Station is willing to sell for the purpose of establishing a Reserve is an area fairly well treed. Providing it is fenced, and rabbits eliminated, and water reticulated from the pipe line two miles away, food could be provided, and kangaroos and wombats encouraged to live within the 3,000 acres. Much of the area is fenced, though not adequately. But this fence could be repaired in such a way as to keep sheep out and allow the wombats to come in from outside areas when adequate food is available in the Reserve.
OUR PROJECT
In view of the dangerous situation of this species, after due consideration, the Natural History Society decided to launch the project. It was resolved that we appeal to all nature lovers, the general public, and all who are interested in photographing and viewing these charming Australians, to donate the price of one acre, $4, and also another $2 to enable the fence and water to be provided. We require $12,000 as a purchase price, and we require another $6,000 to establish the area safely so that the wombats can breed and multiply. This is not an ambitious project. It is well within the financial means of the nature and animal lovers in South Australia, and we sincerely hope that we will receive a response, not only from those who are merely interested in the study of the animal, but from people who are sufficiently interested in retaining the unique things of Australia. Fortunately the Sunday Mail through the splendid co-operation and enthusiasm of its Editor, Mr. K. Parish, and the journalistic efforts of Bill Reschke, a comprehensive report of the whole project was featured in the Sunday Mail of March 16th and 23rd, and an appeal launched which has received such a staggering response from nature lovers and the general public that we are confident that our target of $18,000 will be reached. Already nearly $4,000 has been donated within one week of the Sunday Mail’s launching its appeal, which at this rate should take another four weeks to reach the required $18,000. Most donations have been for one Wombat Acre of $6, but many have subscribed more, while school children and Scout troops have indicated their support. Business houses, professionals, and individuals have shown their willingness to help with manpower, equipment and materials as well as finance. Those who donate $4 for an acre and $2 to provide fencing and water will receive a Commemoration Certificate recording their purchase and donation of one Wombat Acre to the Fund, and their names listed in a special book of honor. May we therefore count on your support? The name of the Fund will be the Moorunde Wild Life Reserve Natural History Society of S.A. Incorporated Trust Fund. There will be no paid officers, and the only expenses will be those relating to the establishment of the land as a Reserve. The money donated is lodged in a special Trust Fund, audited by a Member of the Institute of Charted Accountants of Australia, and will only be withdrawn for the purpose of purchasing the property, and for the payment of costs associated with fencing and providing reticulated water to the area. The administrative costs, such as printing, postage, telephone, transport, etc. will be met privately by individuals and by the Natural History Society and its members. No administrative charges will be paid from the Fund. The Director of the Reserve, Mr. Jack Conquest, together with the President, Mr. A. Molineux, Secretary Mrs. H. M. Molineux, and Vice President Mr. A. Clements of the Society are the Trustees.
MOORUNDE
Moorunde, the name given to the meeting place of three aboriginal tribes, was taken by Edward John Eyre, the famous explorer, as the name of the post he established as Resident Magistrate on the Murray River. We feel it appropriate that we should perpetuate the meeting place of the three now extinct tribes which held the territory whereabouts the reserve is to be established, as well as linking the Reserve with one of our greatest explorers.
This is an experiment unique in Australia, and possibly the world.
As the Natural History Society is determined to establish this Reserve, we appeal to all interested to make a contribution to this Fund as soon as possible. The Secretary of the Fund is Mrs. H. M. Molineux, of South Payneham. If you are unable immediately to contribute the $6 which we are asking, you may promise to pay the amount over a period of time. The Fauna Conservator, Mr. A. M. Olsen, has already indicated his profound interest in the project, and Dr. Peter Crowcroft, Curator of the South Australian Museum, has agreed to act as Advisor, together with Mr. Olsen.
We hope to have the 3,000 acres fenced as soon as possible, and hides built in favourable places for viewing the animals in their natural state. Photographers and others will be able to use these hides and get splendid views of one of Australia’s unique marsupials in its own home territory.
E. H. Hergstrom
Public Officer
1968