The New South Wales Travelling Stock Route and Reserve (TSR) network: historical extent, spatial distribution and drivers of loss 1884–2017

ABSTRACT

The Travelling Stock Route and Reserve (TSR) network is an historical grazing reserve network under threat, where public alarm has continued over the potential sale of reserves. Present debate on the future of the TSRs is often hindered by a lack of data, as knowledge of the historical extent of TSRs is deficient. This paper documents the original extent of the New South Wales TSR network and changes during 1884–2017, and discusses the key drivers of reserve loss since the late nineteenth century. Research using archived literature showed that, in 1884, the New South Wales TSR network comprised 4,414,690 ha. Comparisons of TSR acreage from that time with present estimates revealed that the reserve network has declined by 54% since its inception. Most reductions in TSR area during 1884–2017 have occurred in the Eastern (83%) and Central (82%) regions of the state, where competing land demands are greatest. Technological changes in transport, environmental pressures and economic changes in the grazing industry were identified as key drivers of TSR loss. These findings support concerns over the efficacy of the TSR reserve network, where the extent and impacts of past government decisions to sell off TSRs has been grossly under-estimated.

KEYWORDS:

• Historical geography
• protected areas
• reserves
• roadside vegetation
• transhumance
• road ecology
• degazettement

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Acknowledgments

This manuscript is based on the honours thesis produced by the principal author, completed at Charles Sturt University. Deanna Duffy and Simon McDonald of CSU provided GIS and statistical assistance, and aided in the reproduction of maps and illustrations. Darren James from NSW LLS provided assistance with TSR datasets. Rex Glencross-Grant and Terry Kass provided comments to improve this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Bryce Vella is a BSci. honours graduate at the School of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt University. This research is based on his thesis work.

Prue Gonzalez is a lecturer with the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University. Prue's research interests include sustainable development, environmental communication, social aspects of environmental management, and cultural heritage management.

Peter Spooner is an associate professor at Charles Sturt University. His major research interests include disturbance and landscape ecology of woodland ecosystems, historical ecology, and plant invasion processes in road corridors. Peter has expertise in the field of road ecology, and specifically, research on roadside vegetation and Travelling Stock Routes (TSRs) in Australia.

ORCID

Prue Gonzalez http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5104-0991

Peter Spooner http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7704-172X