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The rate of recovery of vegetation from a state of poor condition is valuable information for rangeland managers who are controlling livestock and feral animal numbers in paddocks to improve condition. We monitored vegetation changes in three exclosures built in 1973 on Kidman Springs Research Station. Data from permanent transects and examples from photo-points illustrate that from a poor state in 1973 recovery of total pasture biomass on red loam soils was relatively rapid (about 5 years), but changes in plant composition are still occurring after 26 years. Tall perennial grasses and shrubs are still replacing annual and short-lived grasses. Since 1973, vegetation within an exclosure on grey cracking clay soils has changed relatively little, except for an increase in some woody plants into these grasslands. These results have implications for the management of these savannas, with the control of grazing and woody vegetation being important considerations.