What's Wallum 1

Wallum

Wallum is an aboriginal word for the Wallum Banksia (Banksia aemula), found growing on the coastal lowlands between northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. The term 'Wallum' is commonly used to describe coastal vegetation types growing on sand dunes or flat, undulating country with acid soils and a high water table.

A world of diversity

A closer look at Wallum habitat reveals a broad spectrum of vegetation types, each with its own unique collection of plant species. Wallum woodlands with Scribbly Gum and Banksias merge with wet and dry heathlands composed of colourful shrubs, grasses and sedges. Because minor changes in slope and soil moisture can lead to dramatic changes in habitat type, it is common to see several distinct habitats in a short distance with seemingly little change in the terrain.

A delicate balance

Coastal soils in the Wallum region are often recognised as originating from one of two major sources. Along most of Queensland's southern coast, winds have shaped ocean sands into complex dune systems. On Fraser Island and Cooloola these sands are several hundred metres deep. In others areas, typically west of the coastal sand dune masses, soils may be derived from weathered sandstone rock Although both soils types are different in chemical composition, similar plant species are often seen on both. Both soils share a deficiency in major plant nutrients as a result of their origin. Wallum plants have managed to overcome these deficiencies in a variety of ways, allowing them to flourish wherever they grow.