EcoGipps has recently listed all four properties with Wildlife Land Trust. With a commitment to preserving wildlife and their habitats, the decision to become part of this growing network of sanctuaries around Australia was a simple one for founders, Jim and Heather Phillipson.
Wildlife Land Trust is a private land conservation movement and the registered properties protect close to 100,000 hectares of habitat throughout Australia. There are a diverse range of ecosystems protected, from land that is home to WA’s iconic Red-Tailed, Baudin and Carnaby black cockatoos to tropical QLD’s Cassowaries. Wildlife Land Trust also has a selection of properties that are dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation, adding to the importance of this initiative.
The listing of the properties with Wildlife Land Trust complements the land protection that is already in place at EcoGipps. Over the years, Jim and Heather have registered their properties with Land for Wildlife, Trust For Nature and in 2025 donated the North Paddock to Biodiversity Legacy to secure its ongoing protection beyond their lifetime.
EcoGipps properties are home to rare, remnant native grasslands, swamp scrub and lowland forest that supports a range of threatened species like the Gippsland Water Dragon. The properties form a crucial ecological link between the Coongulla Bushland Reserve, the Avon-Mount Hedrick Scenic Reserve and the Victorian Alps.
Being part of this initiative highlights the role that landholders can play in protecting wildlife, their habitat and threatened species. For more information about Wildlife Land Trust and how to get involved, visit their website.