“We’d been looking for a weekender in northeast Victoria, a bit of land with rolling hills,” says Luke, who grew up and lives in Melbourne but got to know the region through camping with his father.
“The thing that surprised us was the abundance of wildlife. Only a couple of weeks ago I was doing some work up there and an echidna walked past the window.”
“The thing that surprised us was the abundance of wildlife. Only a couple of weeks ago I was doing some work up there and an echidna walked past the window.”
Protecting endangered woodlands
Billygoat Hill is right next door to the Burge Family Reserve, which was generously donated to Trust for Nature by Mervyn Shaw. The two properties together protect one of the last remaining remnants of threatened Grey Box Grassy woodland, a habitat that once covered 3.5 million hectares of inland eastern Australia. Due to clearing, more than 80% has been lost – and what’s left is highly fragmented and degraded.
The loss of these woodlands is the major cause of the decline of threatened wildlife such as Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters which were once found in the district. Despite these declines, the Burge Family Reserve and Billygoat Hill continue to provide critical habitat for other threatened woodland species, including Brown Toadlets and Striped Legless Lizards.
The loss of these woodlands is the major cause of the decline of threatened wildlife such as Swift Parrots and Regent Honeyeaters which were once found in the district. Despite these declines, the Burge Family Reserve and Billygoat Hill continue to provide critical habitat for other threatened woodland species, including Brown Toadlets and Striped Legless Lizards.
Managing the land for conservation
Landholders and dedicated volunteers have done incredible work to restore the properties, replanting trees, controlling weeds and conducting ecological burns alongside Traditional Owners. Protection under a conservation covenant ensures that effort is preserved.
“We hadn’t really heard of conservation covenants before we found the property,” says Luke. “But once we found out more about it, we realised the benefits, including the exemption from land tax which makes things a bit easier.”
Taking ownership of the property in January, Luke and his family are enjoying learning about the abundant wildlife and how to look after it. Recent rains have brought the bush alive and filled seasonal wetlands on the property. Trust for Nature will provide expert guidance on managing the property.
“I hadn’t really thought of being a conservationist even three months ago, and now I’m hoping to look after it for many decades and pass it onto our family,” says Luke.
“I’m someone who needs a project, and now this is my project for life. I feel privileged to take over something that has been so well looked after and hopefully now look after ourselves.
“We hadn’t really heard of conservation covenants before we found the property,” says Luke. “But once we found out more about it, we realised the benefits, including the exemption from land tax which makes things a bit easier.”
Taking ownership of the property in January, Luke and his family are enjoying learning about the abundant wildlife and how to look after it. Recent rains have brought the bush alive and filled seasonal wetlands on the property. Trust for Nature will provide expert guidance on managing the property.
“I hadn’t really thought of being a conservationist even three months ago, and now I’m hoping to look after it for many decades and pass it onto our family,” says Luke.
“I’m someone who needs a project, and now this is my project for life. I feel privileged to take over something that has been so well looked after and hopefully now look after ourselves.