NP Journal

Travelling Stock Reserves

TSR near Parkes, Central West NSW. Photo: Tom Widdup

TSRs (Travelling Stock Routes and Reserves) were established in the 1800s as tracks from early settlements out to grazing lands. They are parcels of Crown land reserved for use by travelling stock under legislation. They cover almost 500,000 hectares of NSW.

Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPB) are statutory bodies that manage these parcels of land. There are 47 RLPBs across NSW under a State Council and the Minister for Primary Industry.

Win a great prize from Paddy Pallin
in our photographic competition

NPA is launching a photographic competition
of your favourite TSR in NSW.

The RLPB Fact Sheet on TSRs provides the following information:

'TSRs provide pasture reserves for travelling or grazing stock. These reserves can be especially beneficial in times of drought, bushfire or flood. They are also important for public recreation, conservation and apiary sites.

TSRs are well recognised for their conservation values. RLPBs recognise the importance of TSRs in conservation and manage the land to strike a balance between the needs of travelling or grazing stock and the conservation of native species.'

NPA members and supporters spend a lot of time bird watching in TSRs across the state.

These are good places for birds because they provide much needed canopy cover in the highly cleared and fragmented landscapes of the wheat-sheep belt and western NSW.

TSRs are especially important in providing connectivity for migratory birds and other native species, including plants, to move across the landscape.

To celebrate the importance of TSRs and their high conservation values, NPA is launching a photographic competition to showcase your best images of these natural remnants.

How to enter:

Entries must be received by Friday 29 February 2008 (a leap year).

Please email your entries to
or send a CD to NPA PO Box A95 Sydney South 1235