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MacClark (Acacia Peuce) Conservation Reserve
'Acacia peuce' is found in three places, near Boulia
and Birdsville in Queensland, and 40 kilometres
north of Old Andado Homestead, in the Mac Clark Conservation
Reserve.
Acacia peuce, or waddywood is one of the rarest and
most striking trees of the Australian arid zone. It
grows in this Reserve on a stony wind-swept plain in
one of the driest places in Australia. The average annual
rainfall is only 150mm. Daily maximum temperatures average
almost 40 degrees celcius in January. About 1000 mature
trees are protected in this Reserve. The major stands
of trees are fenced to protect them from stock. Prolonged
drought, fires, and rabbits may threaten Acacia peuce
seedlings. The ecology of Acacia peuce is the subject
of an ongoing study. There are a number of permanent
sites at the Reserve where seedling regeneration and
growth rates of trees are measured on a regular basis.
It is important not to interfere with stakes and tree
bands. Mac Clark was a former Andado pastoralist whose
interest in the trees led to the declaration of this
Reserve which bears his name.
How to Get There
From Alice Springs, the Reserve can
be reached via Santa Teresa or from
Kulgera, on the Stuart Highway.
Access is by 4WD vehicles only and
roads may become impassible after heavy rain. Mac
When to Visit
The Reserve is generally accessible all year round.
The cooler months (April to September) are the most
pleasant times to visit. Summer visitors are strongly
advised to travel in convoy with other vehicles.
What to See and Do
In such a harsh environment, only a few shrubs and grasses
manage to survive. The Acacia peuce thrives, growing
to heights of 17 metres and it is estimated it can live
for up to 500 years. One key to the trees survival is
their small spiky needle-like leaves. A small surface
area ensures little moisture is lost through
the leaves.
What to do Walking
It is possible to walk throughout the fenced areas
and admire these rare desert giants. Remember that you
are driving through private landholder properties so
please drive only on the established roads, leaving
gates as you find them and slow down around areas where
cattle are grazing.
Visitor Facilities
There are no visitor facilities at this Reserve. Camping
is only recommended at the nearby Old Anado Station.
Please Remember
- Remember you are driving through private landholder
properties, so please drive only on the established
roads, leaving gates as you find them and slow down
in areas where cattle are grazing.
- All natural and cultural resources in the Reserve
are protected.
- Do not interfere with Aboriginal artefacts or stone
tool sites in the Reserve.
- Ensure that all gates into the Reserve are closed
to exclude stock.
- Do not interfere with the trees and be careful
not to trample seedlings.
- Keep vehicles outside the fenced-off areas.
- Fires are not permitted in the Reserve.
- Do not collect firewood near the Reserve.
- Pets are not permitted in the Reserve.
- Guns and traps are prohibited.
- Camping is only recommended at Old Anado Station.
- Do not interfere with nearby bores or cattle yards.
Acacia peuce, or Waddywood
Acacia peuce, or Waddywood is one of the most rare
and striking trees of the Australian arid zone.
Status Vulernable - Unique Plant
Distribution With northerly migration of the Simpson
Desert dunefields and the consequent expansion of unsuitable
habitat from the south, Waddy-wood has retracted to
three disjunct populations on the fringes of the Simpson
Desert (Deveson 1980; Chuk 1982). Two populations in
the east, 300 km apart, occur at Boulia and Birdsville
in Queensland. The third and smallest population is
400 km west in the Mac Clark (Acacia peuce) Conservation
Reserve, 230 km southeast of Alice Springs (Courtesy
and reference Schabort 2000).
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