Conservation actions

The family has a large program of work underway to maximise habitat integrity to create thriving populations of local and significant species including Dingoes, Swift Parrots, microbats and Gippsland Water Dragons.

The aim is to facilitate future opportunities to rewild the area with species previously lost, including the Eastern Quoll and Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

The family consults with and engages scientists to conduct ecological research, including baseline studies to identify species and habitats of significance and establish long-term monitoring. A number of other projects and activities, including seasonal tree plantings, are underway on the properties, with the family aiming to secure carbon-neutral certification by 2025.

Property details

All four properties have a distinct character, defined by their habitats and topography and shaped by past human exploits. Current management is focused on weeds/feral animal reduction and riparian plantings.

Property 1 (90 acres)

This formerly degraded cattle grazing country, which is bordered by an active irrigation channel and the Macalister River, holds rare remnant swathes of native plains grassland, including Wallaby and Kangaroo Grass.

The river and channel are bordered by riparian woodland and several locally and regionally scarce plants.

The property forms an important interface between habitats and a vital connection to other surrounding properties.

Property 2 (300 acres)

Largely intact, with dry Box and Stringybark bushland and many old tree nesting hollows, this property includes a rare sub-humid forest and Tea-Tree soak; part of remnant swampy lowland habitat.

Scarce plants such as Bushy Hedgehog Grass and Heath Platysace allude to the richness of these habitats.

Property 3 (350 acres)

This property encompasses locally-significant open grassy woodland dominated by Yellow Box grassland on Glenmaggie basalt, a localised habitat in Victoria.

Some grassland areas remain open due to the basalt, including a large alluvial terrace in a meander of Navigation Creek. This creek runs west-east through the property, joining the River Avon to the east and is flanked by mature riparian forest vegetation along its length, with many of the trees supporting excellent hollows.

At the western reaches of the creek, the valley steepens and microclimatic changes result in the area being considerably more humid.

Property 4 (300 acres)

The property consists of open woodland and glades and extensive bush and dry ridgelines. Ben Cruachan Creek forms part of the eastern boundary before joining the Avon River. The surrounding high escarpments are dominated by drier bush.

Several colluvial groundwater-fed springs environments are of particular interest, with further baseline research underway to help the team understand their biodiversity values.

Recent progress

Native grasses, ferns and shrubs are rebounding strongly, attracting small mammals, reptiles and ground birds.