There are a range of soil types across Clackline Nature Reserve, with clays, sandy clays and loamy soils in the lower sections of the topography, while pallid zone clays are exposed on erosional slopes, and gravely soils occur at the top of breakaways. There is a similar diversity of vegetation, with wandoo at the low points, powderbark on the slopes, and jarrah or marri woodland on the breakaway tops. There are five general patterns of vegetation based around these species: The reserve contains the rare plant species acacia aphylla and the priority two flora species stenanthemum grandiflorum.
Fauna
Clackline Nature Reserve is home to a variety of different species. Typical mammals in the reserve are the western grey kangaroo, western brush wallaby, euro, echidna and rabbit. A variety of reptiles are present, including at least five frog, four gecko, three legless lizard, one dragon, two goarina, five skink, and five snake species; and there are more than fifty species of bird, notably the Wedge-tailed Eagle and Dusky Woodswallows.
History
Background
Though part of a north-south ridge system, the Clackline area has been easily accessed for many years due to the gap through which Clackline Brook, Great Eastern Highway, and the former Eastern Railway passed. While the southern area was released for agriculture and settlement, the area to the north was too rugged, postponing its release. In 1928, an application was made to purchase land in the area. However, as the block was "carrying good stands of Wandoo" according to the Conservator of Forests, on 6 January 1929 a timber reserve was created, with an area of. Over the next 44 years, however, the area decreased to.
Establishment
A nearby resident, botanist Ray Paynter, coordinated an effort to protect the Clackline area for conservation purposes in the 1960s and 70s. The Department of Mines opposed the idea, even though the operators of Clackline Refractory, which mined in the area, were supportive. Paynter and the Clackline community continued to push for the creation of a reserve. On 3 March 1973, she wrote to Northam MLA Ken McIver, citing the species of birds, orchids, and kangaroos that would benefit. Nine months later, on 21 December 1973, a reserve "was set aside for the Conservation of Flora and Fauna".
Expansion
Recommendations from the Department of Environment and Conservation in 1983 proposed increasing the area of Clackline Nature Reserve by. One of the conditions for environmental approval for clearing for construction of Fiona Stanley Hospital was that "... of breeding and limited foraging habitat for Carnaby's Black-Cockatoo has been secured for purchase as is to be included in the Clackline Nature Reserve". Approximately of suitable vegetation was purchased in 2008/09 for inclusion into the reserve. The process of including the purchased land in the reserve had commenced by May 2009.
