The story OF Plum Gorgeous

First published by Landcare Australia, Autumn 2017.

David and Jana were leaving an open house inspection when they first spotted what’s come to be known as Plum Gorgeous Rainforest Retreat. They’d been looking at property along the east coast for close to 10 years at that point.

When they pulled up on this 12-acre rainforest block between Noosa and Eumundi, they instantly felt at home. 
The For Sale sign had gone up only hours earlier, and a few days later it read Sold. 

The property soon became more than a serene spot to potter about in retirement. Having heard about the lightning-fast land clearing happening in Queensland (an area the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground is wiped out every 3 minutes), and the disturbing impacts that urbanisation and a changing climate are having on wildlife in the area, we decided to take it on as a family - three generations - to turn the property into a lush and protected native conservation habitat. 

It wasn’t without a few hiccups. The first six months included regularly landing the lawnmower in deep ditches, and driving a brand new tractor into a pond. But as we got to know the land and community better, we each hit our stride. 

It began with becoming part of the Land for Wildlife program and having a flora and fauna study done on the property. The initial mapping identified 69 bird species living in a variety of habitats, including tall open forest with vine understory, shrubby open forest, and Melaleuca woodland with beautiful sedges.  

The property is part of a corridor linking Noosa National Park and Noosa River habitats, and features a gully, wetlands, and waterholes with crayfish and various amphibians including the Wallum Froglet. Other regularly sighted residents include possums, bandicoots, sugar gliders, lace monitors, water dragons, kangaroos, wallabies and native stingless bees. 

Our initial focus was on planting koala-feeding trees and creating bush corridors. In partnership with Sunshine Coast Council and Noosa District Landcare, and with the help of dozens of wonderful volunteers, we planted more than 4ooo trees, seeds and shrubs in two years to rejuvenate the rainforest and create a verdant understory for species within it.

Then, on one incredible day in 2016, researchers from Sunshine Coast University visited with Baxter, a detection dog for conservation, who found evidence of three koalas in one corner of the property alone. We had already become acquainted with the disturbing sounds of koala mating season, but only one had been spotted on the property at that point. Knowing that 80 per cent of koalas in South East QLD have been wiped out in 20 years, it'd be hard to beat the feeling of recording that (possibly first) sighting on the national koala tracking map!

As the months passed, the joy of seeing new species settle in created a natural bridge into caring for injured and orphaned wildlife. We joined local organisations such as WILVOS and QLD Bat Rescue, and have been blown away by the training and mentorship they provide. Our next phase of conservation work will include creating more green corridors, and planting fodder fields to feed and protect the increasing variety of wildlife living and recuperating on the property.

Next, Plum Gorgeous was welcomed to the Humane Society’s International Wildlife Land Trust, and we signed a protective covenant that locks the land up from any destruction or development. 

Looking back, it’s clear how lucky we are to have been welcomed and mentored by an amazing range of wildlife carers and eco-advocates on the Sunshine Coast, whose support turned the overwhelming idea of creating this kind of sanctuary into a fun and deeply satisfying learning curve.

We’ll continue to share our journey in conservation with family, friends, and our fabulous volunteers, and we hope this website may serve as a practical resource to support others looking to live a little greener, wherever that may be.