About our insects
Westgate Park covers ~40 hectares and a third of this area is planted with indigenous species over the last three decades making this park increasingly biologically diverse. Estimates suggest there are more than 200.000 species of insects in Australia but only 1/3rd have so…
Insect BioBlitz at Westgate Park
The BioBlitz at Westgate Park will be held on Monday 2 March, 10.30-12pm. This week-long bioblitz in the City of Melbourne starts at Westgate Park. We will meet at the main carpark on Todd Road, Port Melbourne. Mars Reid (Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery &…
Xerochrysum palustre – the people’s choice
Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery & Landcare are delighted to have Xerochrysum palustre – Swamp Everlasting – as our floral emblem for the City of Melbourne. There are thought to be only 20 populations of Xerochrysum palustre left in Victoria. You can easily assist in conserving this critically endangered plant by…
Next microbat survey 21 Feb -10pm to midnight
Here’s the report on our 17 January survey. Conditions : temp 26C, Wind slight SE 20km/ph 44% R humidity, Clear skies. Moon phase: full (not applicable). Welcome to newbies: Robert Schiller, Tegan Gross Lovely Bat regulars : Rhonnie, Baida, Ricki, Esther, Bruce, and nice…
City of Melbourne managing Westgate Park
On 1 January 2026, the management of this substantial inner urban park of 36 hectares was transferred to the City of Melbourne. We saw the benefits of this move a decade ago. Now, four years after Council agreed, the transition has begun! Big thanks…
Westgate Biodiversity wishes you a happy Christmas
Bili Nursery will be open during Summer Monday to Friday, other than the prescribed public holidays.
Microbat survey report, Sat 15 Nov
At last a warm day in Melbourne! Still was good to see some rain throughout the week, and the frogs and mole crickets were in full song. Many of us feeling a little tired after the AGM but buoyed by the fantastic talk by…
Westgate Biodiversity AGM
We hope you can come along to hear Russell Larke, Head Gardener of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Corporation, formerly Senior Curator at the Botanical Gardens Victoria. See here for Russell on Instagram. A light lunch will follow Russell’s talk. Please let us know if…
Microbat survey – Sat 15 Nov at 7pm
This is a citizen science project monitoring microbats in Westgate Park to see if nest boxes are encouraging microbats to breed in the Park. Firstly we inspect the nest boxes using extension poles and ‘ferret’ cameras and at sunset we use echo meter recorders…
Fungi are back!
After several dry winters the rain has come fungi are now appearing at Westgate Park. Below are just a few we noticed. You are more likely to see fungi in areas where the land is relatively undisturbed and sheltered so the southern edge of…