Friends of Koolunga Native Reserve

Koolunga Native Reserve and Wirrianda Reserve are two bushland parks owned by the City of Knox on Forest Road, Ferntree Gully/Boronia, in Melbourne, Australia. Both are on the foothills at the base of the Dandenong Ranges and the flora reflects that of the Ranges and also that of the surrounding lowlands.

Koolunga was obtained by Knox Council in 1967 as a recreation reserve. The area had primarily been used as a daffodil farm, and by the locals as a rubbish dump along the creek. Daffodils still appear each year but the rubbish has largely been dealt with. The 6 hectare (15 acre) area of Koolunga now consists of some remnant bush land and some areas of mown grass where orchids appear despite the previous intensive horticulture use. Surprisingly, the remnant vegetation is quite varied with many very small populations of particular plants.

In 1994, a Friends Group was established which has been active ever since. In the same year a Management Plan was produced and has continued to be the basis of the Friends' activities. Works along the creek, which is a tributary of Blind Creek have been carried out and have included bank stabilisation and revegetation.

Wirrianda is a small triangular reserve near a very busy road intersection. Pine trees have been removed and it is now primarily bushland. Rather than form a separate Friends Group for Wirrianda, local residents have joined with the Koolunga Friends.

Both reserves come under the care of the Bushland Crew of the Knox Council, and regular working bees are held by the Koolunga Friends Group.