Barrm Birrm
Since 2005, Riddells Creek Landcare has been looking after the bushland called Barrm Birrm, place of many yam roots, at the top of Gap Road. We love this place. It is a place to sense the more-than-human world, to calm down and be invigorated.
Our group has cleaned up the rubbish, pulled out the weeds, recorded the plants and urged the Shire to do more to protect this rare piece of bush. Now Macedon Ranges Shire has committed to buy back Barrm Birrm.
In this website, Plants and Animals and Places to Walk are good starting points to learn more about the land itself. Right here is where we update you on what we are doing to protect Barrm Birrm. As of August 2026, the assault by trail bikes on the mid- and lower-slopes seems to have stopped (see below).
As winter gives way to spring, the acacias are beginning their blooming - we hope you can visit Barrm Birrm soon! Walk there on your own, or join us for our regular Wildflowers and Weeds event, third Wednesday of the month, 10-12, from 288 Gap Road.
And check out our project to produce a new edition of Macedon Range Flora, the best way to know what you are looking at as you walk though Barrm Birrm.
Walking around Barrm Birrm
Barrm Birrm is a lovely bit of bush, but there's a lot of bush around in the Macedon Ranges - what's so special about this particular bit?
1: If you live in Riddell, or nearby, like Gisborne or Sunbury, both 15 minutes drive away, it's easy to get to.
2: You walk in and you walk right out of your normal life.
Share the love
The Shire is on board, and Big Thanks to those of you who have written to the Shire to congratulate them. It's a bold move. Early responses from Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon, are not enthusiastic, but we're playing a long game. If residents of Riddell and surrounding towns come to know and love Barrm Birrm, that will slowly shift political opinion.
The long game is to share the love, and the best way to do that is to come for a walk.
A big change in thinking
On 24 August, Council of Macedon Ranges passed a motion to protect Barrm Birrm, specifically .... that Council:
1. Recognises the unique and special environmental and community values of Barrm Birrm;
2. Advocates to the Victorian Government for the public purchase of the privately owned lots within the area known as Barrm Birrm for community benefit;
3. Writes to the Honourable Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Minister for Environment and Climate Action and the Local Member for Macedon the Honourable Mary-Anne Thomas MP, Minister for Health to advise of this motion and Council’s advocacy for Barrm Birrm; and
4. Request staff to prepare a report outlining actions that can be undertaken to ensure the appropriate management of Barrm Birrm.
Our next walks
Barrm Birrm needs care and attention, and our next set of walks are action projects. You are just the person Barrm Birrm is looking for to help understand and protect it.
These walks will suit people who know Barrm Birrm a bit and want to go further. Each will get you working alongside others who share your interests.
Springtime Walks draw enthusiastic participants
We've had three, and a lot of people have come along. the orchid walk saw 35 people curling in a long line along the tracks, then spreading out to pick their way through the grasses, eyes on the ground looking for orchids, taking care where they placed each footstep because suddenly, there was a lot of individual plants there.
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