2001: Conservation in the remote Kimberley

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.