Be Bushfire Smart

Camping

• Enjoy bush camping on the open grassy plains or within the shade of a stand of banksias. Campers must be self sufficient and bring their own firewood and drinking water.
• Campfires are permitted in accordance with fire protection regulations, although Parks Victoria strongly recommends the use of portable stoves.

Hunting

• During the relevant open season and with the appropriate game and firearm license, try hunting wild duck, Stubble Quail and Hog Deer. The use and possession of firearms in the Reserve is prohibited at all other times without written authority from Parks Victoria.
• Dogs are only permitted within the Reserve during the open duck and quail season for the flushing and retrieval of game. A dog must be under the control of its owner for this purpose at all times.

Fishing

• Try your luck fishing within the pounding surf of Bass Strait along the 90 Mile Beach.

• There are no facilities within Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve except information boards on the three access roads to the Reserve.
• Be self-sufficient with drinking water. Carry it in and/or know how to make untreated water safe for drinking. For more information contact Parks Victoria on 13 1963 or visit the Department of Human Services Better Health website www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.
• Woodside, the nearest township, has toilets, picnic tables and information.

The local Brataualung Aboriginal clan of the Kurnai (Gunai) lived in South Gippsland for over 6,000 years. The Brataualung people travelled the estuaries in their canoes (gri), beside pelican (baran) and swan (gidi). They hunted and gathered seasonally abundant food including the eggs of Black Swans and shellfish.

The colonisation of South Gippsland by Europeans resulted in the displacement of the Brataualung people from their traditional homeland. The confrontation of the two cultures led to some violent clashes. In July 1843, a local pastoralist, Ronald Macalister was speared to death near Port Albert. In response Angus Macmillan, one of the first white settlers in Gippsland organised a party of whites that massacred approximately 90-150 Brataualung on the banks of Warrigal Creek (very close to the Reserve).

The remains of many camps (boangs) containing charcoal, stone, flints and shells are scattered throughout the Reserve. A number of burial sites are also known.

Declared in 1958, Jack Smith Lake was the first State Game Reserve in Victoria. This means that it has been set aside for habitat protection, wildlife management and hunting of game species.

Aboriginal Traditional Owners
Parks Victoria acknowledges the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of Victoria - including its parks and reserves. Through their cultural traditions, the Gunai - Kurnai identify the Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve as their Traditional Country.
Further information is available from Aboriginal Affairs Victoria AAV and Native Title Services Victoria .

Life here depends upon the irregular flooding and drying of the lake which provides nutrients essential for the wetland food web. Vast numbers of insects and other invertebrates inhabit the lake's waters. They provide food for over one hundred bird species including the Black Swan, Australian Pelican, Pacific Black Duck, Chestnut Teal, Grey Teal, Great Egret, Sacred Ibis, Royal Spoonbill, Great Cormorant and White-faced Heron. Swamp Harrier, White-bellied Sea-eagle and Brown Falcon are often seen soaring overhead in search of prey.

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Swamp Wallaby and Common Wombat shelter within these woodlands during the day, emerging at night to feed on the native grasslands of Wallaby Grass and Tussock Grass. At night, when the lake contains water, it comes alive with the sound of croaking frogs.

Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve protects extensive coastal lagoons, salt marshes, coastal woodlands and native grasslands.

The large shallow lake is dominated by species which have adapted to periodic inundation including Australian Salt Grass, Sea Tassel, stoneworts, Water Buttons, Water Ribbons, Silky Wilsonia, Arrowgrass, Coast Saw-sedge and Beaded Glasswort.

Coastal woodlands of Manna Gum, Saw Banksia, Coast Banksia, and Drooping She-oak with an understorey of Sweet Wattle, Prickly Tea-tree and Bracken are scattered throughout the Reserve.

• All plants and animals in the reserve are protected.
• Please do not disturb any shell middens or remove any aboriginal artefacts from the reserve.
• Hunting is permitted only during the recognised open seasons for duck, quail and Hog Deer.
• Dogs are only permitted within the Reserve during the open duck and quail season for the flushing and retrieval of game. A dog must be under the control of its owner for this purpose at all times. Dogs are not permitted for the hunting of Hog Deer.
• Bins are not provided in the reserve so please take your rubbish with you.
• Vehicles including trail bikes may only be driven on formed roads open to the public, and must be fully road registered. All drivers and riders must hold a current licence.
• No fires, including barbecues, may be lit on days of Total Fire Ban (Eastern District).

Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve (2,730 ha) is situated within South Gippsland, approximately 260 km from Melbourne. The Reserve is accessed from the South Gippsland Highway at Woodside via Brynes Road or Stringybark Lane; or the Darriman - Seaspray Road (Middle Road).

• Corner Inlet Marine and Coastal Park
• Holey Plains State Park
• Nooramunga Marine and Coastal Park
• Tarra Bulga National Park