Crooks Racecourse
Where we work / Snowy Mountains / Crooks Racecourse
- Acquired:
- 2019
- Area:
- 558 ha
- Bioregion:
- Australian Alps
- Habitat:
- Snow Gum Woodlands, Alpine fens and bogs, Alpine grassland
- Threatened Ecological Communities:
- 1
- Threatened and Near-Threatened Species:
- 12
Reserve overview
Crooks Racecourse, at 558ha, is one of the highest privately owned acreages in Australia. It sits in the Australian Alps, right on top of the Great Dividing Range with a highest point around 1750m above sea level. The reserve is surrounded by Kosciuszko National Park on three sides and is generally under snow from July to October. It features a mix of snow gums on the hills and ridges and large areas of treeless frost hollows with snow grass and alpine fens and bogs.
Crooks Racecourse directly adjoins the Jagungal Wilderness Area and shares most of the same values. The Australia Alps Walking Track follows part of the northern boundary of the reserve.
protecting WILDLIFE, sustaining life
Species and Habitats
Crooks Racecourse protects substantial areas of the Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens ecological community, which is nationally listed as endangered. A total of 164 flora species were identified in a vegetation survey in 2021 including six orchids and one listed species. With most of the property being burnt in the Dunns Road megafire in early 2020, it is likely that the number of species evident will increase as the vegetation recovers.
Conservation Highlights
A post-fire fauna survey in 2020-21 recorded 64 bird, 28 mammal, 14 reptile and three amphibian species. Of greatest interest were records of the EPBC vulnerable listed Broad-toothed Rat and the endangered Alpine She-oak Skink as well as nine other listed species including the Eastern Pygmy Possum. Some species were found well outside their previously known range including the Alpine Water Skink.
