Malleefowl
Leipoa ocellata
Mallee
Sunlight and a big sky...
Softly rolling plains, once under an ancient inland sea
Multi-stemmed eucalypts, wildflowers, parrots and lizards
Mallee Fowl parents hatch their chicks
The Victorian Mallee in the north-western corner of the state has a mosaic of vegetation types adapted to low rainfall and sandy soils. Most characteristic are the small multi-stemmed eucalypts or mallees that are able to survive fire by re-sprouting from large underground lignotubers. These mallee roots made the land hard for European settlers to clear for agriculture. Nevertheless, 70 per cent of the area is cleared of native vegetation making habitat loss is the single most important factor affecting wildlife. Large areas of mallee are now included in national parks.
Animals from the Victorian Mallee
Explore other Victorian environments
Dry forest
There are many types of dry forests in Victoria including stringybark, red gum, grassy woodlands and the remnants of the once great box–ironbark forests.
Coastal wetlands
Victoria’s coastal wetlands are significant places for wildlife, with many listed in international conventions to protect the habitat of migratory birds.
Alps
The Victorian Alps extend from the plateaus of Lake Mountain and Mt Baw Baw to peaks such as Mt Feathertop and the headwaters of the Murray River.
Grasslands
When the first Europeans arrived in Victoria there were grasslands on the vast, undulating western plains, on the northern plains and in Gippsland.
Research and actions helping our environment
Find out about the issues affecting our special places and the plants and animals that live in them, and discover some ways you can help.