A regenerating foothill forest

Tucked away at the end of a long driveway, “The Mill” Boolarra Bush Block is a 20-acre sanctuary of predominantly eucalypt forest. Messmate Stringybark, Peppermint Gum and Eurabbie form the canopy, while a rich understory of native shrubs, grasses, fungi and orchids creates diverse habitat at ground level.

A seasonal winter creek winds through the property, contributing to soil moisture, habitat complexity and wildlife movement. Although the site was once associated with timber milling — with logs brought in from elsewhere for processing — the forest itself has continued to regenerate and strengthen over time.

Today, 100% of the property is permanently protected under a covenant with Trust for Nature. The agreement includes two carefully defined “floating building envelopes,” ensuring that any future infrastructure can be sensitively located without compromising conservation values.

Strengthening a vital biolink

Completely surrounded by other bush blocks, the property plays an important role in maintaining landscape connectivity across the Strzelecki foothills. Since purchasing the land in 2021, Anne, Alan and their son Oliver — a botanist — have actively enhanced this connectivity by planting more than 300 indigenous trees and shrubs.

Using seed and cuttings responsibly collected on site, they have focused on maintaining local genetic integrity. Alan and Oliver have also installed 26 nesting boxes, expanding habitat opportunities for hollow-dependent birds and mammals while natural hollows continue to develop in maturing trees.

The family is encouraged by the forest’s health and its rapid regeneration, noting increasing structural complexity and wildlife activity each year.