It is a small area (2.241ha) of mainly open grassy woodland and grassland which contains the endangered button wrinklewort Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides.
In the Queanbeyan-Canberra area, much of the remaining grassy woodland and grassland communities are found in small, often disturbed remnants which have been severely modified. The habitat of R. leptorrhynchoides has been subject to clearing for both agriculture and urban development, application of fertilisers, weed invasion and probably an altered fire regime.
Queanbeyan Nature Reserve contains the only population of R. leptorrhynchoides that is formally protected in NSW.
The primary purpose of the reserve is to preserve this population and its habitat. Secondary objectives are to protect a sample of grassy woodland and natural temperate grassland and manage the area in a regional context.
