Scabby Range Nature Reserve has an area of about and is located about north-east of Yaouk. The Scabby Range Nature Reserve lies adjacent to the south-western portion of the border of the
Australian Capital Territory with New South Wales border abutting
Namadgi National Park and the Bimberi Wilderness area. It complements these major reserves and shares much of their wilderness character. It embraces a range of subalpine communities which have developed on a rugged and elevated section of the Murrumbidgee
granite batholith and adjacent Yaouk
leucogranites and Ordovician
metasediments. This elevated block is heavily dissected and forms the eastern continuation of the Kosciusko Uplands with contrasting
lithology and
physiography. It rises to c 1800m above the Yaouk/Cabramatta plain which is a cleared pastoral area lying 600m below. Average annual precipitation is of the order of 1,400mm, some of which falls as snow and with less reliable rainfall in summer when compared to winter precipitation receipt. Above 100mm snow banks may persist for more than 3–4 months amidst the giant
tors,
domes and rockshelves which dominate the landscape. The vegetation is clearly
subalpine in character at the higher elevations, on the more exposed sites and along the cool air drainage lines, and on the lower slopes well developed
montane open forest is extensive. The dominant association is one of alpine ash
Eucalyptus delegatensis and mountain gum (
Eucalyptus dalrympleana) with various inclusions of the peppermints (
Eucalyptus radiata,
Eucalyptus dives), manna gum (
Eucalyptus viminalis) and snowgum (
Eucalyptus pauciflora) which frequently reach 30m in height. Alpine ash is the most prevalent species on slopes with a south-easterly aspect. Here it forms unusual uneven aged stands. Elsewhere on the more exposed, elevated sites, a range of low stature communities exists. Low woodland and tall shrubland of snowgum merges with open heathland of common shaggy pea
Oxylobium ellipticumand alpine plum pine
Podocarpus lawrencii and swamp heath of
Epacris paludosa within polsters of
Sphagnum christatum. In the lower depressions, often fringed by stands of black sallee
Eucalyptus stellulata are snowgrass herbfields (dominated by
Poa spp.) and sedgelands or
Carex fens typified by the occurrence of
Carex gaudichaudiana. Notable plant species occurrences include that of two rare or vulnerable shrubs, Australian anchor plant
Discaria pubescens and an undescribed daisy bush (
Olearia sp.2, Sentry Box Hill). Other notable plant species occurrences include that of the uncommon species
Bossaiea procumbens, the existence of
Acacia alpina on the higher western slopes of Sentry Box Hill (as representing the only wattle species to occur beyond the montane habitat), the association of the restricted
Epacris robusta with the alpine shrub
Westringia lucida and the fact that here
Eucalyptus delegatensis forms unusually uneven aged stands (it normally occurs as a uniformly aged post fire response elsewhere). There is also a record of the restricted and rare
Grevillia diminuta, the rare
Viola improcera and a distinctive form of the alpine herb
Montia australasica also exist in the area. These species are found associated with the rocky microsites of the reserve which support a large number of uncommon or restricted plant taxa. Faunal records for the reserve have not been published. Abundant populations of the common wombat (
Vombatus ursinus hirsutus) are present. Other mammals noted as occurring within the reserve include species of antechinus (
Antechinus stuartii,
Antechinus swainsonii), at least two murid rodents (the southern bush rat,
Rattus fuscipes and the uncommon broad toothed rat,
Mastacomys fuscus), one possum species (the common ringtail,
Pseudocheirus peregrinus peregrinus) and two macropods (the eastern grey kangaroo,
Macropus giganteus, and red-necked wallaby,
Macropus rufogriseus). More than 200 bird species are listed for Namadgi and would apply to scabby range also since the National Park surrounds this Nature Reserve. This avifauna is typical of tall sclerophyll forests and subalpine woodlands of the southern Monaro and adjacent highlands with rich representation of raptors, old world flycatchers, seasonal influxes of honeyeaters and parrots including the vulnerable glossy black cockatoo
Calyptorhynchus lathami and poorly known yellow tailed black cockatoo (
Calyptorhynchus funereus). Of note also is the fact that a significant portion of the area's birds move seasonally, overwintering at lower elevations and moving to the higher country such as the Scabby Range in summer. The reserve's herpetofauna is likely to comprise a small number of species consistent with the regional assemblage from cold, high altitude sites. Cool temperature tolerant elapids, a range of saxicoline and fossorial skinks and several species of cryptic, ground frequenting frogs (e.g., Ranidella spp.,
Limnodynastes tasmaniensis, etc.) make up the herpetofaunal assemblage of the Scabby Range. Mount Kelly at the reserve's northern apex, is an established focus for bushwalkers, affording outstanding panoramas of a scenic landscape with a distinctive wilderness quality.
Condition Near natural condition although the ecosystems suffer from the presence of exotic animals, particularly rabbits
Oryctolagus cuniculus and pigs
Sus scrofa, and with feral horses
Equus caballus occasionally damaging high altitude fens and seepages. The reserve, along with the more extensive Namadgi National Park and the Bimberi Range, constitutes an area with considerable wilderness value. (1989) == Heritage listing ==