UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 1AM Monday 13 May 2013
18th Bush Blitz—looking for new species at Henbury Station, NT
Scientists and teachers from across Australia will descend on Henbury Station, near
Alice Springs today in a nature discovery ‘Bush Blitz’.
For the next 12 days, 15 of Australia’s top scientists from museums, herbaria,
universities and botanical gardens throughout Australia will camp out on Henbury
Station documenting the many plants and animals protected by this huge reserve.
Bush Blitz Manager Jo Harding said Henbury is home to a range of threatened
species and diverse habitats.
“From its rocky ridge country and wetlands to its vast grassy plains, Henbury is a
biodiversity gem. We can’t wait to see what species we discover this trip—maybe
even some that are new to science,” Jo said.
“We’ll be taking a close look at spiders, true bugs, plants, bees, stygofauna,
dragonflies, frogs, reptiles, fish and mammals—so there’s plenty to keep the
scientists busy!”
Bush Blitz is a partnership between the Australian Government, BHP Billiton and
Earthwatch Australia. It aims to discover and document the plants and animals in
properties throughout Australia’s National Reserve System.
This is the 18th Bush Blitz since the program began in 2009. So far, Bush Blitz has
discovered more than 650 species that are new to science, and there are high hopes
that Henbury will add to that count.
This blitz marks the launch of an exciting new aspect to Bush Blitz, the schools
project called Bush Blitz TeachLive. For the first time, teachers from across Australia
will take part in a Bush Blitz, working as field assistants to the scientists. The teachers
will then ‘teach live’ back to their classrooms, sharing their finds with their students
through Skype, video blogs and lesson plans. Bush Blitz TeachLive is coordinated by
Earthwatch Australia and the Australian Science Teachers Association.
Professor David McInnes, CEO of Earthwatch is thrilled by the involvement of
teachers and students in the Bush Blitz at Henbury.
“We want to inspire the next generation of Australian scientists, and Bush Blitz
TeachLive is a great way to do it,” David said.
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“This fantastic project links the theory of the classroom with the practical
on-ground work being carried out by the scientists – it will spark the
interest of students from across the country in nature discovery.”
“The teachers will help with everything from laying pitfall traps to collecting plant
specimens. Their experience will be channelled straight back to their students.”
The knowledge gained during the Henbury Bush Blitz will be published for use by
land managers, scientists and researchers across Australia and the world. It will also
help Henbury’s owners, R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings, to manage the
property’s abundant biodiversity for years to come.
To follow the progress of the Henbury Bush Blitz go to
www.bushblitz.teachlive.org.au
NOTE TO EDITORS:
QUICK FACTS:
Henbury Station:
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Henbury Station was purchased by R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings in 2011 and is
being managed for conservation as part of Australia’s National Reserve System.
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The Australian Government provided $9.2 million towards the purchase, to ensure
Henbury’s outstanding biodiversity is permanently protected for future generations. It is
the largest property ever purchased for the National Reserve System with
Australian Government support.

Henbury was previously run as a cattle station, but cattle have now been removed
allowing the native vegetation and wildlife to regenerate.

The 500,000 hectare property is home to various threatened species including
the bustard, southern marsupial mole and the black-footed wallaby. They live in
the red gum, desert oak and mulga woodlands, shrublands and hummock
grasslands, which provide habitat for other threatened species including the
Peter Latz wattle and the thick-billed grass wren.
Bush Blitz:
 Bush Blitz is a partnership program between the Australian Government, global
resources company BHP Billiton and not-for-profit conservation research
organisation Earthwatch Australia. This program, to document and discover the
plants and animals in properties across Australia’s National Reserve System, also
involves CSIRO, museums, herbaria and governments across Australia, dozens of
the country’s top scientists and science teachers as well as volunteers.
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Since it began in 2009, Bush Blitz has sampled more than 60 National
Reserve System properties, totalling almost 2 million hectares.
It has collected some 650 native species new to science—
helping to increase our knowledge of Australia’s amazing biodiversity.
Some of the species discovered include 216 species of true bugs, 106 species of
spider and scorpion, 85 species of moth and 12 species of vascular plants.
Bush Blitz has also recorded more than 9,500 species not previously known from
these nature reserves, including more than 2,000 plant species and almost 300
reptile species.
R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings

Established in 2009, R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings is a powerfully diverse and
globally focused food producer with sustainable, agricultural roots.

RMWAH owns a blue-chip portfolio of rural properties in Queensland and the Northern
Territory producing beef and organic poultry for domestic and international markets.
Complementing the company’s protein focus is a commitment to exploring new,
sustainable practices that balance agricultural activities with environmental initiatives.

R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings is working within the parameters of the NRS to
protect the biodiversity of Henbury Station into perpetuity so as to deliver
environmental, social, and cultural outcomes of national significance.

The company will continue to work with Henbury Station project partners – including
the traditional owners of Henbury Station – in a collaborative manner in accordance
with their responsibility as custodians of this important parcel of Australia’s red centre.
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