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Kashmir
"Kashmir", formally known as "Koojanup Park", is now open for visitors on weekends during Spring and Autumn.
Woodfired pizzas and drinks are also for sale at the trailer at the entrance to the garden.
Located at 10 Church Lane, the garden is approximately 25 acres and growing. For more information see: https://www.kashmirmountwilson.com.au/
Mrs Rodgers commissioned Paul Sorensen to design and do the works on the property which included terracing and basalt stonework.
Maples, cherry's, elms and oaks can be found along with Tulip and birch trees, rhododendrons and camellias. There are a number of conifers and Cypress, including a large Sequoia sempervirens.
Since purchase almost 5 years ago , the current owners have worked at restoring the garden which had become overgrown and required maintenance to the stonework.
Along with restoring and maintaining the garden, current work has included adding basalt stone walls and several sets of sandstone stairs in order to aid in the flow of the garden. The design has always intended to carry the Sorensen style throughout.
You'll find new plantings of several types of
hydrangea and peonies along with hundreds of bulbs planted each year for Spring.
The garden will be ready to open fully in Spring 2024. Currently, the terraces are open to visit free of charge.
You will find the owners son, Chad, making woodfired pizzas from his trailer on the top terrace. There are plenty of places to sit and eat and enjoy the wonderful view.
Hope to see you there!
Donating to Mt Wilson - Mt Irvine Community Groups
Tax deductible donations can be easily made by clicking on the following links below:
The Mt Wilson - Mt Irvine Rural Fire Brigade
Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)
A native of China and Japan. Japanese Honeysuckle is a vigorous climber with soft green leaves and pale yellow, sweetly scented flowers which self layers and quickly grows up and over shrubs and small trees, smothering them. The black berries are carried by the birds.
Japanese Honeysuckle is a vigorous, fast growing scrambling and climbing shrub with distinctive pinkish new stems. Old stems can become thick and gnarly.
Spring is a good time to identify Japanese Honeysuckle, a creeper with its distinctive small yellow cream to white flowers with a pink tube. Flowers occur in pairs and mostly in spring to autumn. Flowers are fragrant and nectar-filled.
Small shiny black berries 6–10 mm long occur in autumn.
Impact on bushland
Japanese Honeysuckle grows rapidly and forms a dense shade over shrubs and low canopy trees, blocking the light, breaking branches and causing loss of biodiversity.
Control
Japanese Honeysuckle twines in and around other plants, making it difficult to control.
Vines climbing up shrubs or trees:
- Scrape each stem as far as possible and paint; suspended vines can then be cut and left in place.
- Suspended vines are easily identified as they look like gnarly paperbark vines.
- Cut and paint large crowns and scrape and paint as many roots as possible.
Vines growing on the ground:
- Pull out by hand, making sure all root and stem parts are removed. Cut material can be spread out off the ground. Once dead, it will decompose in place.
- Where the foliage is dense, treat with herbicide if there are no native plants or water nearby.
Berries are spread by birds, so treat plants before they fruit.
Do not pull dead or alive vines out of trees as this may damage the tree and it may be habitat for microbats and other small animals.
Current Bushfire Status
Update about the Gospers Mountain Fire to the north of us, posted Wednesday, 11 December.
Gospers Mountain Bushfire Update - Plan to begin backburning today.
The Gospers Mountain bushfire seen yesterday from Smiths Hill was about 6 kms from Mount Irvine
The Fire
While we have a good weather window MWMIRFS Brigade will commence back burning into the area below Mount Irvine today to take advantage of the better conditions for creating a safety burnt area around Mt Irvine. This will involve lighting the bush from the fire trails around Mount Irvine then Mount Wilson to remove the fuel between the villages and the Gospers Mountain fire thereby protecting property in the villages. The back burn is a lower intensity burn usually lit at night and going downhill so as to reduce the impact on the surrounding bush while removing the fuel and protecting the area from the bushfire coming into the villages on a bad day.
On Tuesday the fire was holding on Bungleboori Creek (see yesterday’s Update map), north of Mt Wilson / Mt Irvine, but quite active on the Newnes Plateau. The back burn started at Mountain Lagoon has progressed as far as Bilpin. After a very hot day yesterday we are entering a good weather window until about Friday.
Access to the Mounts
A road block at Mt Wilson Road and the Bells Line of Road will restrict access to all vehicles other than residents and emergency services. Expect this to be in place for a couple of weeks.
Letters of authority were distributed last night to all residents providing access to named people on the presentation of the letter and ID like a local rates’ notice or a driver’s licence. If you need an authority for anyone else (other than Mount Wilson or Mount Irvine residents) please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating: first name, family name and email address. A personalised authority letter will be sent to the nominated person.
The trigger point for fire plans
The start of backburning is the trigger point for people to carry out their fire plans. If you plan to leave, today is the time to relocate. Leave, stay or come to the Mounts this is also the time to contact your Street Coordinator and tell them what you will be doing. A fire warning message may be sent to all mobile phones in the area when fire reaches a preset zone around both villages . Do not be alarmed by this, just follow the prompts and check with your street coordinator if the situation or conditions may have changed.
Once backburning starts we will see an increase of smoke in the area. From today expect increased movement of trucks, activity around both community halls and fire stations and road closures in areas as the backburn progress from Mount Irvine to Mount Wilson and on along Mt Wilson Road to Bells Line of Road.
Please slow down on the local roads, if possible pull over and let tucks pass. Do not enter the fire trails or the burn area as there will be many hazards, machinery operating, steep trails, falling trees and hot ash beds.
Anyone who would like to assist with Catering or Station work please contact the Brigade Station Officer on 4756 2168.
Peter Raines
Senior Deputy Captain
Mt Wilson-Mt Irvine RF Brigade
Map of Fires in NSW with the current status of each fire, Fires Near Me.
The map can be zoomed to show fires in our area.
After Emergency Support
Following all emergencies people are impacted and need support. This can be in the form of psychological or social support. Contact details are available below, but if you need someone to talk to or are feeling anxious or depressed then please contact one of the organisations below.
