Mount Zero-Taravale becomes a perpetually safeguarded area

In 2004 Mount Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary was the focus of a historic conservation agreement with the Queensland Government, ensuring protection for the sanctuary in perpetuity.

At the time this was the largest area of private land in Queensland to be granted such protection.

Located in a biodiversity hotspot, Mount Zero-Taravale protects an incredible diversity of species including over 400 species of native vertebrates.

Sanctuary of national conservation significance

The acquisition of Brooklyn Wildlife Sanctuary in north Queensland in 2004 was a purchase of national conservation significance.

Brooklyn contains an extraordinary concentration of wildlife and provides a refuge for more than 30 species that are threatened with extinction.

Of the more than 300 bird species and 80 mammal species found at Brooklyn, many are restricted to particular rainforest types in the region, including the Golden Bowerbird (Prionodura newtoniana), Victoria’s Riflebird (Ptiloris victoriae), Macleay’s Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma macleayana), Lumholtz Tree Kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi), Musky Rat Kangaroo (Hypsiprymnodon moschatus) and several species of Mountain Ringtail Possum.

Emphasising its international conservation significance, Brooklyn is one of the most biodiverse private properties in Australia and protects the largest parcel of privately owned World Heritage listed land on the continent.

Research into the disappearing Gouldian Finch

With generous support from philanthropist Mike Fidler, AWC started its first major research program into causes of decline in threatened species, focusing on the endangered Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae).

The research findings revealed the critical importance of effective fire management for reversing the decline of the species. In turn, this highlighted the crucial link between scientific research and conservation land management for generating positive outcomes for Australia’s threatened wildlife.

Today, Mornington is one of the most important sites for Gouldian Finch populations in the Kimberley.

Tackling Curramore’s weeds to protect threatened species

In 2003 AWC purchased Curramore Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the heart of one of Australia’s true biodiversity hotspots, the Southeast Queensland bioregion.

The property had a remarkable concentration of threatened species, imperilled by an infestation of lantana, a weed of national significance. A key part of AWC’s land management program at the sanctuary has been developing effective techniques for removing lantana and restoring rainforest habitat.

Over the last decade, Sanctuary Manager Klaus Runde and AWC volunteers have removed 45 per cent of the lantana infestation from the property, creating a showcase for lantana control in the region.

Mornington Wilderness Camp opens to the public

AWC welcomed the first guests to Mornington Wilderness Camp and a world-class visitor experience.

To this day the camp provides an opportunity to educate visitors on AWC’s groundbreaking conservation work and to be immersed in the beauty of Australia’s wilderness areas.

Popular activities at Mornington include early morning bird-watching tours, canoeing down the Fitzroy River through two billion year-old Dimond Gorge, and enjoying spectacular sunsets at Sir John Gorge.

AWC purchases its first sanctuary outside Western Australia

The purchase of Mount Zero in 2002 (becoming Mount Zero-Taravale in 2003) marked AWC’s first sanctuary acquisition outside of Western Australia and set AWC on the path to become a nationally significant private (non-profit) conservation organisation.

In 2002, AWC also purchased Yookamurra, Dakalanta, Buckaringa and Scotia from John Wamsley’s organisation, Earth Sanctuaries Limited (ESL), instantly growing AWC’s portfolio from six to ten properties.

The acquisition of these ESL properties expanded AWC’s feral predator-free areas into a national network of safe havens in which endangered mammal populations could be restored.

Giving back to Australia and becoming a not-for-profit charity

After expanding the organisation considerably through his own private contributions, Martin took the enormous step of turning AWC into a national not-for-profit charitable organisation.

AWC’s inaugural CEO, Atticus Fleming, was recruited to lead the new public-facing organisation, to implement Martin’s vision and develop a new model for conservation spearheaded by a national fundraising program to fight Australia’s extinction crisis.

The AWC fundraising model focused on private philanthropy and borrowed from the successful approach adopted by the American NGO, The Nature Conservancy.

Swift expansion followed, with the first two major campaigns focusing on the acquisition of Mount Zero Sanctuary in north Queensland to save the Northern Bettong (Bettongia tropica) and a reintroduction program of threatened mammals to world heritage listed Faure Island.

Mt Gibson acquisition helps AWC tackle major land management challenges

The acquisition of Mt Gibson (130,000 hectares) was a substantial leap in scale for AWC. The first goat-resistant (deterrent) fence was established, along with the removal of artificial water points, resulting in a significant recovery of vegetation.

A few years later, trials of novel feral cat baits would make Mt Gibson a key early component of AWC’s strategic research program into landscape-scale feral predator control. The sanctuary would also become the site of one of AWC’s most ambitious and successful mammal restoration programs.

Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary becomes one of the largest non-government protected areas in Australia

In 2001 Martin acquired Mornington, a vast cattle station covering sprawling savanna grassland and the ancient sandstone ranges of the central Kimberley.

At over 310,000 hectares, Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary became one of Australia’s largest non-government protected areas and a haven for threatened wildlife like the Gouldian Finch (Chloebia gouldiae) and the Wogoit (Rock Ringtail Possum, Petropseudes dahlii).

Mornington’s isolated location presented a new challenge – undertaking conservation in an extremely remote location. This led AWC to adopt a boots-on-the-ground approach, basing staff out in the field, which is now a key feature of AWC’S conservation model.

Seven years later, in 2008, Mornington expanded to become Mornington-Marion Downs (560,000 hectares). This vast protected area is a stronghold for species that are rapidly disappearing elsewhere across northern Australia.

Karakamia’s population boom enables the first translocations between sanctuaries

In the absence of feral predators, Karakamia’s mammal populations were booming, bucking the national trend of large-scale mammal decline. This allowed for the translocation and establishment of new populations at Paruna.

Starting in 2000, Woylies (Bettongia penicillata), Quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) and Tammar Wallabies (Macropus eugenii) were translocated from Karakamia to Paruna, re-establishing and/or boosting the local populations. This was the first in a long line of species translocations between sanctuaries for AWC.

However, in the absence of fencing at Paruna, the more vulnerable species like the Woylie did not persist in the presence of foxes and cats, an outcome that informed the design of AWC’s reintroduction program going forward.