The clearing of the Illawarra rainforests: problems in reconstructing Pre‐European vegetation patterns

Historical information is used in conjunction with a detailed knowledge of the environment and vegetation types of the Illawarra district to reconstruct the original extent of rainforest in the district. While most of the literature and popular opinion suggest that much of the Illawarra was covered in rainforest vegetation, historical accounts and the patterns of existing vegetation clearly indicate that the rainforests were much less extensive than this. Based on historical evidence, the present occurrence of rainforest and other vegetation and a detailed knowledge of the environmental requirements for local rainforest development, three major concentrations of rainforest have been delineated. Termed the ‘Illawarra’, ‘Yarrawa’ and ‘Berkeley’ brushes, these areas covered 12,000, 2,450 and 1,600 hectares, respectively. These brushes represented 70 per cent of the 23,000 ha of rainforest estimated to have occurred in the district before European settlement. Historical information is a valuable tool in ecological research, but a detailed knowledge of the interactions of the vegetation and environment are also required to reconstruct original vegetation patterns.