The parcel of land was once part of a large farming property owned by the Cheong family, who donated it to the Council in 1952. A covenant on the reserve’s title designates it as a sanctuary for the preservation of native flora.
The relatively small area of the reserve, without any significant barrier to shield it from the grassy weeds invading from the adjacent Melbourne Water easement and the railway cutting or from the exotic garden plants escaping from adjoining properties, resulted in severe weed infestation.
More recently, extensive weed control has improved the quality of the bushland, but has not prevented species loss.
Planting of locally sourced indigenous spaces to restore the original composition of the bushland is starting to show results.