Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve is an approximately 25 ha bushland reserve on the western bank of the Duck River in Chester Hill. Its most notable feature is one of the most important remaining patches of critically endangered Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark Forest in the Sydney Basin.
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About Wategora Reserve
Bushland and Wildlife at Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve contains valuable bushland and remnant vegetation that forms part of the district's green infrastructure. A 2020 to 2022 survey of the reserve recorded 1933 species over about 380 hours, and about 90 further hours of surveying since 10 November 2022 added another 153 species. Wategora Reserve is a Wildlife Protection Area under the NSW Companion Animals Act 1998, which bans cats from the reserve entirely.
Aboriginal Heritage at Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve is named after the Wategora clan of the Darug Nation, linking the reserve to the First Nations people of western Sydney. Wategora Reserve holds great Aboriginal cultural and heritage significance, which Cumberland Council's planning for the district recognises. The reserve's cultural values sit alongside its natural values on the Duck River, where the land is valued for its cultural meaning as well as its bushland.
Walking Track at Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve has a walking track along the Duck River that passes through remnant bushland on the river's western bank. The reserve stretches about 1.3 km from north to south, so the track suits a quick bushland walk or a longer nature outing. Everley Park, directly to the south, also has riparian vegetation along the Duck River, and sporting fields, a golf course and industrial estates surround the reserve.
Facilities at Wategora Reserve
Visitor tips for Wategora Reserve
- ✓Wear sturdy footwear, as fallen trees lie across some paths and long grass can hide parts of the track.
- ✓Log your plant and wildlife sightings on the reserve's iNaturalist project to add to its species record.
Getting to Wategora Reserve
Wategora Reserve is in Chester Hill NSW 2162, bounded by Wellington Road to the north, Auburn Golf Course to the east and a commercial and industrial complex to the west.
Open in Google Maps →Nearby Chester Hill
- 📍Everley Park (directly south)
- 📍Princes Park (780 metres south)
- 📍Auburn Golf Course
- 📍Melita Stadium
Frequently asked questions about Wategora Reserve
Are there walking tracks at Wategora Reserve?
Yes, a walking track follows the Duck River through the bushland.
Are cats allowed at Wategora Reserve?
No, cats are not permitted anywhere in the reserve because of its wildlife protection status.
Is Wategora Reserve good for kids?
It suits a nature walk with children, since the riverside bushland holds a high diversity of species.
Why is Wategora Reserve significant?
It protects critically endangered ironbark forest and carries the name of the Wategora clan of the Darug Nation.
How big is Wategora Reserve?
The reserve covers approximately 25 ha and runs about 1.3 km from north to south.