Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408:front:0:p251
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00408
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 781643–784608

open woodland and grassland at the time of European colonisation may have been associated with a dry cycle as well as the impact of the use of fire by Aboriginal people.  Vast stretches of open grassland existed on the plains with limited areas of treed vegetation above the winter frost line.

Aboriginal associations with the land are ongoing.

Colonial occupation 1825–1900

This period represents the beginning of European occupation of the study area in the 1820s with the use of sheep grazing on the natural grassland of the Limestone Plains.  The rural landscape character of this period gives emphasis to the concept of the later selection of Canberra (formerly Canberry Station and others) in the Federation period as the 'Bush Capital' reflecting national sentiment with rural Australia, and colonial conquest of the land.

In terms of a scientific description, the Limestone Plains are associated with a sedimentary geology of sand, gravel and clay overlying the Canberra Group of bedrock (shale, siltstone, limestone, sandstone, tuff and rhyolite).

The larger early land holdings were those occupied by Moore and Campbell, with most of the study area falling within Campbell's 'Pialigo' land straddling both sides of the Molonglo River.

The land was largely cleared of indigenous treed vegetation and revealed a landform of gentle undulations with subtle drainage lines falling towards the Molonglo River.

The pastoral nature of the landscape of the area during the nineteenth century built upon the open woodland character, and further clearing to establish grazing.  In contrast to the open character of the valley floor and indigenous tree cover on the hills was the use of exotic vegetation to mark permanent colonial settlements.  This was an attempt to create comfortable microclimates for shade and shelter from westerly winds, as well as reference to the familiar forms associated with northern hemisphere environments.

The rural landscape in this period consisted of a patchwork of introduced and indigenous grasses, fenced paddocks in different states of cultivation according to the seasons (eg. wheat fields), dirt roads, homestead complexes with both indigenous trees and largely exotic plantations, and individual buildings such as shepherds' huts and the conspicuous St John's Church.  The Church grounds and surrounds contained contrasting vegetation and particularly conifers.

In the rural Limestone Plains of 1900, before the development of the national capital, a number of exotic plant species were established.  The tree species included English Elm, False acacia, Tree of Heaven, Lombardy Poplar, Silver Poplar, Weeping Willow, Basket Willow, Aleppo Pine, Stone Pine, Monterey Pine and Hawthorn.

The willows were conspicuously located along watercourses and the Molonglo River banks.  Pines were used as windbreaks and/or specimen plantings, as were the deciduous trees.  The poplars were used as markers throughout the local