History of Blackbutt Reserve

 

As I stated last week this week’s post concerns the history of Blackbutt Reserve.

Blackbutt Reserve exists today because a coal mine failed, a land auction flopped, and a handful of determined Novocastrians fought for decades to protect the bushland. It is now Newcastle’s largest natural reserve at 182 hectares.

The land sat entirely within a huge Scottish‑Australian Mining Company lease. Mining began in 1863, but because operations were underground, the surface bushland remained largely intact.

As coal declined and taxes rose, the company tried to sell off small subdivisions in Lambton, New Lambton, and Kotara between 1915–1928. In June 1932, 52 lots were auctioned—only five sold due to the Great Depression. This

failure opened the door for councils to buy the land for public use.

This why the failed 1932 land auction saved the bush

Joe Richley, president of the Northern Parks and Playgrounds Movement, convinced New Lambton Council to buy 6 hectares in 1934—the first piece of what became Blackbutt Reserve.

The in 1937 more land was purchased, and by 1938, the NSW Government resumed additional parcels. In 1938 there was a council shake up and the land came under Newcastle City Council trusteeship.

By 1940, the reserve covered 144 acres, from the 1950’s to the 1970’s there was expansion damage from fire and restoration started. In 1966 Community groups successfully fought off a proposed expressway through the reserve.

From the 1970’s saw captive animal displays, picnic areas, barbecues, and walking tracks.

The old mining pit closed in 1985 and was later redeveloped.

The renovated area reopened as Richley Reserve, named after Joe Richley, 1993.

Then in 2014 construction at Carnley Avenue uncovered a 19th‑century brick‑lined mine shaft that had never appeared on any official maps—an unexpected archaeological find.

Today, Blackbutt spans 182 hectares, making it Newcastle’s largest and most ecologically significant reserve.

 

Week 10 of 2026

 

Here we are at the start of March and Autumn; I slept well getting just under 7hrs. It is a wet morning I hope it doesn’t rain all day.

Did the usual housework and cleaned off Tim’s bed side table and packed away the Cpap machine I knew he wouldn’t use.

It has been a cool dry day, saw Blain when he came to see his mum, looks like he may be moving home while they look for somewhere else to live.

This afternoon has been lovely and warm.

Steps:6,637=3.3k’s or 2 miles

Good morning, all, I slept well till 3.20am after that I was in pain and hot and tossing and turning till 4.20am when I had enough and got up.

My BGL was 5.5 and the temp at 4.30am was 22c or 71f. At 11am it was 27c or 80f.

Tasha came down and asked if they could store some of Blain’s stuff here as she doesn’t have enough room at her             place.

By 2pm it was 30c or 86f and I had to turn the air con on. Thankfully I only need it on for an hour.

Steps: 7,028 = 3.5k’s or 2.1 miles

Good morning anyone reading this, I have been up since 4am but I was in bed early last night and had a good 9hrs &30minutes of sleep.

My BGL was 5.5 and it was 21c or 69f, by 6am it started raining, also had T (Blain’s gf) come down looking for milk which I gave her.

What a morning Tasha had a skip bin delivered this morning and when he got home from work Tim started taking stuff up and tossing it into the bin, in helped by placing items on the walker and taking them to the bin. I decided to remove items allowing me to get out an old cupboard I then opened the front wooden door.

The mess behind the cupboard and door was awful so I cleaned that up it all took over an hour to do it. I cleaned the front of the wooden door but as I am short, I couldn’t reach the top of the door, I will see if Sam will come and finish it for me.

It is 5pm and I am feeling really unwell, I am very tired and really just not with it.

No steps as my watch died, it will not charge.

Been up since 4.10am, I am feeling much better this morning, I had a around 7.5hrs of sleep. My BGL was 5.8 and it is currently 22c or 70f.

Jess came over when she got home and asked if I could wash her work shirts as she has OT for the next two nights.

At midday I had to turn the air con as    it was 30c or 86f.

By 4pm I was ratshit and felt like crap due to tiredness I am now going to bed and it is only 6.30pm

Another early start and damn my body is moving a lot this morning and my let knee is crackling.

Tim has called in sick for work he hopes he will be ok by lunch time to do his arvo shift.

I went shopping with Sue and in was ratshit all morning, I left the house wearing a long skirt and shoes and I had to remove the skirt yes, I had shorts on under it and also took my shoes off.

I had an hour-long nap between 12 & 1pm, also Dawson came over for a visit he was here are 45 minutes.

Tim isn’t working at all today even though he started feeling ok by 10am.

This afternoon I wasn’t the best but I ate something and started to feel much better.

Steps:5,509= 3.7k’s

Up far to early for my liking 4.10am as I wasn’t able to get comfortable in bed with my left arm hurting and my right hip hurting.

 

It is 21c or 70f, but we are looking at a top temp of 30c. I got around 6hrs of sleep and my BGL was 6.6.

 

Went shopping with Sue after her doctor’s appointment, I was not the best, I think it was due to the heat and my swollen feet.

 

I had a one-hour nap and have been great for the rest of the day.

 

I emptied the money boxes I have been putting money in since 2021 which I will use as spending money on our cruise next month.  Total amount $300.

 

Steps: 5,426 = 3.5k’s

 

Good morning, another damn early start I was up at 4.15 and had a shower before starting my day. It is 21c or 69f my BGL is 6.6 and I had around 7hrs of sleep.

I went back to bed at 7am for an hour, I feel ok after that nap. At 9.45am I was watching TV and started to fall asleep and my back was aching. Then my hearing aid battery died so got up and changed seats.

After having another nap between 11 & 12 I am feeling great.

Tim is working tonight.

A late night for me it has just gone 9pm and I’m to bed, fingers crossed I sleep better.

Steps:3.939=2k’s

 

 

‘

Caturday with Luca

Good afternoon, everyone, here I am at last doing a post this week we have Caturday with Luca.








Hi everyone, here I am in the first photo sitting on mum’s chair giving her what she calls my I’m not moving look.








In the second photo I am playing with a toy

Photo Friday

 

Here is another school photo of me I am fourth from the right or sixth from the left, I was 11yrs old in this photo 

The Post with Links to Other Posts

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/getting-to-know-me.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/marching-into-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/sunday-stealing.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/tuesday-4.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/03/share-your-world.html

 

 

 

 

.

 

Smallest Snake

 

This week we are looking at the smallest snake which is the Barbados threadsnake is a tiny, worm‑like species found only on the island of Barbados. It holds the record for the smallest known adult snake on Earth.

It’s about 10 cm (3.9–4.1 inches) long, it is roughly the thickness of a spaghetti noodle and weighs only 0.6 grams which is lighter than a paperclip.

What does it look like well it is smooth, shiny, and brown, resembling a tiny earthworm.

It can be found in Barbados, especially the island’s remaining patches of forest. It is critically endangered, partly because Barbados has lost most of its original forest habitat.

They are a burrowing species that spends most of its life underground, they feed mainly on ant and termite larvae.

Like other threadsnakes, it lays a single egg, and the hatchling is unusually large—about half the length of the mother.

While several blind snakes are small, including the Brahminy blind snake (often mistaken for the smallest), none are as short as the Barbados threadsnake. The Brahminy typically reaches 6–16 cm, making it small but not the smallest.

 

 

Blackbutt Reserve

 

This will be a two-part post starting with this, not far from where I live there is a nature reserve called Blackbutt Nature Reserve.

It is in the western suburbs of Newcastle, NSW, centred around Kotara and New Lambton, with major entrances at Carnley Avenue and Richley Reserve. It is one of the most accessible natural areas in Newcastle.

It sits just a few minutes inland from the coast and forms one of the city’s largest continuous bushland corridors.

Blackbutt spans roughly 182 hectares across several connected bushland pockets. There are three main public areas, these are, Carnley Avenue entrance, which is the most popular entrance, with wildlife exhibits, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and walking tracks.

Then there is the Richley Reserve entrance with large open lawns, ponds, BBQ areas, and access to longer bush trails.

There is also an entrance from Lookout Road which edges bushland buffers and has trail access points.

It is about a 10-minute drive from Newcastle’s CBD.

Because it is in the middle of suburban Newcastle it acts as a wildlife refuge for koalas, wallabies, birds, and reptiles. It is also a green corridor linking smaller bushland patches across the city.

It is very popular place for family gatherings as well as a popular place for school excursions and of course those who like to go on bush walks.

Next week I will share some of the history of the reserve