The native vegetation found along the Newcastle coastline is quite limited due to pressures from urbanisation and the spread of the highly invasive coastal weed called Bitou Bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera). The first infestation of Bitou Bush in Australia was actually recorded at Stockton in 1908. It is thought that the Bitou Bush arrived in the ballast of a ship from South Africa. Further information about Bitou Bush can be found at the Office of Environment and Heritage website.
Whilst our coastline is subject to significant pressures, there is still a small, but important vegetation corridor that exists along most of the coast. Council, Landcare, and others are undertaking ongoing revegetation works along our coastline to maintain this vital corridor. The goals of Council's ongoing revegetation works are to:
- Protect and enhance native coastal habitat values, and threatened vegetation species
- Minimise the impacts of weeds and pests
- Protect valuable built infrastructure from erosion.
Some examples of the works Council has undertaken are shown below.

Horseshoe Beach 2012

Horseshoe Beach 2014

Shortland Esplanade 2014

Shortland Esplanade 2015
Themeda Grasslands
Newcastle's coastline is home to a very rare community called Themeda grasslands (1).

Themeda Grasslands at the Memorial Walk
The grassland is only found on coastal headlands and seacliffs. Individual patches of the grassland can be as small as a few square metres in size. In Newcastle, we are lucky to have 2.6 hectares of the grassland across King Edward Park, The Obelisk and Strzelecki.
Kangaroo Grass (Themeda australis) is the main species found in the grassland. Whilst Kangaroo Grass is widespread across Australia, the coastal species is believed to be genetically distinct because it is shorter and has waxy blue-green leaves which turn a beautiful red colour in the cooler months. In spring and summer, the grass bears a unique seed head.

Themeda Seedhead (Source: Ecobiological 2012(2))
As the grassland is an endangered ecological community, it cannot be mown. Not mowing the grassland allows us to enjoy the natural beauty of one of NSW's rarest communities.
This grassland community is now limited to very small patches along our coastline, and is at risk of extinction in NSW, so please tread lightly. Further information on Themeda grasslands can be found at the Office of Environment and Heritage website.
(1) Full name of the endangered ecological community is Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions.
(2) Ecobiological. (2012). Ecological Assessment of Themeda Grassland on Seacliffs and Coastal Headland in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner Bioregions. Warners Bay: Ecobiological.