Major win as Bush Heritage secures final puzzle piece
Bush Heritage Australia has successfully secured Wanarra, a 107,000-hectare property in WA's Mid West. It’s a landmark acquisition that tackles large-scale habitat fragmentation.
Bush Heritage Australia has a unique opportunity to secure the future of a 107-000-hectare property, Wanarra, in Western Australia’s mid-west, 220km south-east of Geraldton.
Located on the lands of the Widi Mob and Badimia people of the Yamatji Nation, Wanarra is an expansive and ecologically rich landscape strategically located next door to Bush Heritage’s existing Charles Darwin Reserve (67,975-hectares). The southern half of Wanarra is located in the Southwest Australia Global Biodiversity hotspot, renowned for its high species diversity and many endemic species.
According to Shelley Foster, Bush Heritage Australia’s Healthy Landscape Manager for the region, the acquisition would be the final puzzle piece to connect one million hectares of protected land.
– Shelley Foster, Bush Heritage Healthy Landscape Manager“Wanarra is the missing link for conservation in this region. Opportunities to protect such a significant and strategically placed property like this don’t come along often.”
A smart conservation opportunity with a head start
The former sheep station has been destocked for more than a decade, allowing its fragile salt lakes, critically endangered Eucalyptus Woodlands, wildflowers and grasslands to begin recovering from the effects of grazing. Additionally, Wanarra safeguards part of the culturally significant Mongers Lake complex, also an internationally significant site for migratory birds during rare flooding events.
Threatened species known to occur on the property include the Vulnerable Malleefowl and the Endangered Western Spiny-tail Skink, alongside a remarkable diversity of wildflowers and invertebrates.
Current property owner Richard Hamilton said he is looking for a buyer who would continue to care for it with a genuine on-ground presence.
“Bush Heritage, with their staff, scientists and enthusiastic volunteers, was an obvious contender. It’s hard saying farewell to my home of 27 years, but knowing my legacy would be protected makes it much easier.”
Strategically positioned where the Wheatbelt meets the wild
Wanarra lies at a critical transition point between agricultural land in the West Australian Wheatbelt and semi-arid rangelands.
“More than 90% of native vegetation has been cleared in WA’s Wheatbelt and only 4% is currently under official protection,” said Bush Heritage ecologist Fiamma Rivera.
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Rocky outcrop at Wanarra. By Andrew Burrows.
– Fiamma Rivera, Bush Heritage ecologist“Thousands of plant species here are found nowhere else in the world, and there’s a high chance there are more still to be discovered.”
The acquisition would represent a significant step towards Bush Heritage’s long-term goal to deepen and double its impact by 2030. For Shelley, it’s about focussing on places where scale and connectivity deliver the greatest benefit for nature.
“The opportunity to purchase Wanarra is about more than hectares – although 107,000 would be a huge step forwards for us as an organisation,” she said. “We’re looking at strategically protecting places where we can make the biggest difference for nature in the long-term. For over 20 years we’ve protected and managed Charles Darwin Reserve next door and we’re incredibly hopeful that we may soon be able to more than double our impact in this region.”
Bush Heritage is progressing plans to purchase Wanarra from its current owner Richard Hamilton. We are calling on the public to help raise $4.6 million by 30 June to protect and manage this extraordinary property, alongside others in our reserve network. A collection of generous supporters has also pledged $1.5 million in matched giving to support us to meet our goal.
