South East Corner bioregion

The South East Corner bioregion is in the south-east corner of NSW and extends into Victoria.

Map showing the South East Corner bioregion

South East Corner bioregion area

  • 2,532,053 hectares in total
  • 1,206,479 hectares in NSW

The NSW portion is in 2 parts:

  • most of the bioregion is bordered by Sydney Basin bioregion to the north and the South Eastern Highlands bioregion to the west
  • a small fragment lies between the Australian Alps and South Eastern Highlands bioregions.

The bioregion includes the towns of Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Bermagui, Bega, Merimbula and Eden. Most of the bioregion's population live in the towns along the coast.

The Clyde, Deua, Moruya, Buckenbowra, Brogo, Wadbilliga, Towamba, Genoa and Tuross rivers traverse the bioregion with the main catchments being the Clyde, Deua, Tuross, Bega, Towamba and Genoa catchments.

The climate is mostly temperate, with warm summers and no dry season. A small patch at higher elevation in the south-west has a montane climate.

The diverse topography, rainfall and temperature is reflected in the diversity of vegetation. There are over 40 threatened plant species and nearly 90 threatened animal species in this bioregion, particularly the long-footed potoroo (Potorous longipes).

Almost half of this bioregion is managed in conservation tenures.

Read the South East Corner bioregion chapter of 'Bioregions of New South Wales' (2003) (PDF 3.5MB) for more information.