Emus and Kangaroos Roam Among Us
Elaine Hopper for ACF Rosellas
On Saturday 6 June 2026, over 100 people enjoyed discovering one of Melbourne’s best-kept secrets, the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, hidden within the La Trobe University campus at Bundoora. Eastern Rosellas, a community group of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), invited children, their parents and other adults to enjoy nature in the suburbs, as part of our promotion of the ACF Wild at Art competition for children. Eastern Rosellas is based in the Chisholm and Menzies areas of Melbourne.
The Wild at Art Competition asks primary school children to choose an endangered Australian plant, bird or animal, tell its story in a paragraph, and draw or paint a picture of it.
Our event attracted a big crowd with everyone enjoying the opportunity to be in nature and see wildlife, including emus and kangaroos. It was a bit damp at times but not enough to stop the enjoyment.
Nangak Tamboree is an inspirational place to encourage people to value nature and protect it. It is described by La Trobe University as “a living laboratory for students, staff and the wider community; its waterways connect with the local creeks, attract wildlife and support native flora.”
The reserve of 30 hectares was formed from an amalgamation of old farm land, and the former recreation grounds of the Mont Park Psychiatric Hospital. Over time the area had become the dumping ground for 120 old cars. It is now protected by a Trust for Nature Conservation Covenant and a predator-proof fence for the protection of the fauna and flora inside.
The Reserve is generally open from 10am to 3pm and has parking , toilets and some shelter onsite. You can buy indigenous plants for your garden, too, to encourage critters into your own yard.
Days like this remind us how important spending time in nature is for our wellbeing. Nature provides us with the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. So, it makes sense that we should have high standards for protecting it.
We’ve seen the draft standard for Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), as part of the revised Nature Laws that passed last year, and the message is clear. This draft standard currently does not lift the bar for nature.
The final standards are still being drafted so now’s the time to let Environment Minister Murray Watt know how many of us care about really protecting Nature. Go here to find out more: https://www.acf.org.au/our-work/nature/email-minister-watt-environment-standards