YOUR CHANCE TO OWN A WILD AND BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF AUSTRALIANA, A BUSHLAND RETREAT, CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE CONSERVATION OF AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE

- Drake NSW

Are you searching for a conservation property? Ever wondered how you can do your bit to preserve and protect Australian flora and fauna? This is a rare opportunity for you, family and friends to own your own camping/holiday escape and to get hands-on with restoration and protection of it’s important biodiversity assets.

The hard work has been done. The current owner has had a career in national park and Indigenous land management and knows the value of protecting this generous area of intact forest from further logging, subdivision, clearing and the associated impacts of soil erosion, exotic weeds and feral animals. There’s a lot still to do, with fun, adventure and relaxing to be had along the way. Your passion, imagination and enthusiasm will be boosted.

‘Wonga’, 320 hectares (800 acres) of grassy Eucalypt forest in the catchment of the mighty Clarence River has a Biodiversity Conservation covenant, protecting it forever. The covenant (with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, BCT) lists the species of plants and animals found, or expected to be found on the property and provides guidelines for their ongoing protection and recovery.

Features include:
• 15 kms from the village of Drake in Northern NSW, about 4 hours from Brisbane.
• Part of a large area of forest, eastern slopes of the Great Dividing Range, and adjacent to Girard State Forest
• A well-constructed 5m x 12m cabin with water tank, outdoor kitchen/cooking facilities and toilet, affording delightful, comfortable camping and a base for you to explore, bushwalk, relax, be creative and learn about the wildlife of the property, eg checking wildlife cameras, spotlighting for koalas, possums and gliders.
• Mobile/internet coverage available at the cabin and several other high points around the property.
• Wonga has dwelling permissible status, through DA to Tenterfield Shire Council.
• Nil council rates on the Conservation Agreement area (this is 97% of the property). Total rates approx $400/year.
• 310 hectares under Conservation Agreement as well as 10 hectares (in 3 separate parcels) excluded from the agreement which allow for domestic or potentially small scale commercial activities (eg bush camping, eco-cabins, orchard, gardening, trail rides etc).
• A network of bush tracks offering access to the diversity of the property and providing handy firebreaks for facilitating small, cool management burns.
• Altitude is 500-600m ASL with several high points providing distant views over the Clarence and Timbarra Rivers and to Mt Barney in Queensland to the north.
• Semi-permanent creeks have swimming holes for those summer days.
• Partially fenced, the steepness of some of the country makes full fencing difficult and of marginal benefit.
• A small cattle yard and trapping facility for reducing the impact of a few feral cattle.
• Habitat for at least 22 threatened animal species and 1 threatened plant species, including;
o Koala
o Glossy black cockatoo
o Little lorikeet
o Spotted-tailed Quoll
o Powerful Owl
o Grey-headed Flying Fox
o Giant Barred Frog
o Rufous Bettong
• Several nestboxes have been installed, to improve wildlife habitat
• 8 years of historical monitoring records and an established land management monitoring framework. Several permanent sites for annually photographing land condition and documenting fire and weed management activities.
• Collection of abundant firewood for personal heating/campfire use is permitted
• The property is recovering well from historical logging and bushfires in 2019. Many large, hollow-bearing trees remain and regrowth is well advanced.
• Previous lantana infestations are now well under control.
• Interested buyers can access the following documents on request:
o Conservation Agreement under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1974
o Annual Monitoring Reports covering 2016-2024
o Wonga plant list
o Area bird list
o Threatened species of the Drake area (from Bionet)

Expert advice and access to land management funding support is available. You will have all you need to continue the conservation work, and enjoy the many delightful features of the property, while achieving real and lasting benefits for Australia’s precious wildlife.