SERF Overview
The property
The Samford Ecological Research Facility (SERF) is located in the Samford Valley, a 25-minute drive northwest of QUT’s Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane, Queensland. This 51-hectare property provides QUT with a research, teaching and learning base for a range of ecological, engineering, built environment and educational programs primarily relating to urban development and its impact on ecosystems.
The property was bequeathed to QUT by renowned Queensland entomologist Dr Elizabeth Nesta Marks whose breakthrough work with mosquitoes and malaria in the 1940s and ’50s is world recognised. Dr Marks passed on in 2002 and under the provision of her will instructed the executors of her estate to identify a suitable beneficiary for this land who would use the property for ‘ecological purposes’.
70% of the property is covered with vegetation providing a refuge to native plants and animals that are under increasing pressure from urbanisation. SERF is being managed by QUT’s Institute for Sustainable Resources (ISR) as a living laboratory for research and educational experiences for its researchers, students and visitors. The vegetation is protected and classified under the Vegetation Management Act 1999.
QUT has plans to integrate the Facility into a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) facilities network - an international program established by the United States National Science Foundation in 1980. The LTER program is a collaborative effort involving scientists and students documenting, analysing and understanding ecological processes, patterns and phenomena that vary over long temporal and broad spatial scales. It also promotes collaborative research across all LTER networks and national and international research programs.
Site Characteristics
Address: Camp Mountain, Samford QLD 4520
Location: In the southeast of the Samford Valley about 12km south of the Samford Village. Approximately 25km north west of the QUT Gardens Point Campus in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. More on Samford Valley.
Larger map (PDF, 172KB)
Latitude: 27 degrees 23’22.211’ S
WGS 84: 27.389503 dd
Longitude: 152 degrees 52’37.30’’
WGS 84: 152.877028 dd
Size: 51 hectares
Climate: Subtropical
Rainfall: The average annual rainfall for the Samford Valley is 1016.6 mm
Environmental Monitoring: Link to SERF Weather Monitor resources
Topography: The property covers a low ridge and gentle hill slopes and its northern boundary is formed by Samford Creek, the second largest drainage unit within the valley.
Facilities
The Barracks
The refurbishment of the Barracks under the supervision of Paul den Ronden and his Construction Management students is completed.
Although the SERF facilities are still undergoing development, a range of classes, lectures, workshops, discussions and field trips are encouraged there.
SERF Newsletter
The biannual SERF newsletter features educational activities, historic sites, events, and people, and helpful researcher information regarding the Samford Ecological Research Facility.
Issue 7 (PDF, 1.23MB) – December 2012
Issue 6 (PDF, 1.58MB) – November 2010
Issue 5 (PDF, 1.64MB) – May 2010
Issue 4 (PDF, 2.3MB) – November 2009
Issue 3 (PDF, 3.4MB) – May 2009
Issue 2 (PDF, 428KB) – November 2008
Issue 1 (PDF, 523KB) – April 2008