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Explosives Reserve & H.C Press Park

Explosives Reserve and H.C. Press Park comprise of a largely intact 35 hectare area of bushland located in Castle Cove, within the Middle Harbour catchment. The western border adjoins H.D. Robb Reserve and six residential properties. H.C. Press’ northern border consists of residential properties along Emerstan Drive and the western border adjoins North Arm Reserve. Both reserves are located on Middle Harbour.

Access to Explosives Reserve is opposite 42 Cammaray Road and at the end of Bampi Place. Access to H.C. Press Park is opposite 54 Cammaray Road, along a bitumen road which becomes a track and continues through to North Arm Reserve.

Both Reserves are a valuable link in the chain of vegetation that extends from H.D. Robb Reserve to the north, North Arm Reserve and around to the Castlecrag Northern Escarpment to the south, and across Bantry Bay from Garrigal National Park.

These reserves contain some of the largest and most intact areas of continuous and complex wildlife habitat in the Willoughby LGA. The vulnerable Red-crowned Toadlet exists in small communities in drainage areas of Explosives Reserve. Swamp Wallaby and Long-nosed Bandicoot were first recorded in these reserves before they repopulated others in Willoughby around 2002. There are other large terrestrial mammals as well as a large number of woodland bird species occurring in the reserves. The vulnerable Powerful Owl is known to roost in the woodland and forest areas. The reserves contain some of the last successful breeding sites for the White-bellied Sea Eagle in the Sydney Harbour area.