The community is normally associated with sheltered heads and upper inclines of gullies on transitional zones where sandstone outcropping may be present.

[3] The sheltered forest on transitional sandstone soils is an open forest or woodland dominated by eucalyptus trees with disjointed subcanopy trees, various shrub layer and a groundcover of ferns, forbs, grasses and graminoids, primarily on soft terrain, with slopes rarely surpassing 10°, and sandstone outcrops occur at parts, compared to areas within well-developed, precipitous gullies.

The forest occurs in sheltered gullies and hillsides, on soils based on Hawkesbury Sandstone with some clay influences, principally centred on Allenby Park[4] in Allambie Heights.

The sheltered forest been recorded in the local government areas of Campbelltown, Liverpool, Georges River, Hurstville, Kogarah, Sutherland, Wollondilly and Wollongong in the Sydney Basin Bioregion with an extent of less than 45 000 ha, where it is bounded by Hurstville, Carss Park, Bundeena, Otford, Stanwell Tops, Darkes Forest, Punchbowl Creek and Menai.

[5] Common tree species include the Blackbutt, Sydney Red Gum, Turpentine and Watergum.