Conservation Values

In 2019, QTFN purchased Gurrbum Reserve in partnership with Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4) with the joint vision to secure habitat for the endangered southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii).

Excitingly, in 2024 we sold Gurrbum Nature Refuge to our partners the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4). Over the last five years, QTFN and C4 have been hard at work to protect and restore Gurrbum, which is helping to secure and restore a critical link in Cassowary habitat within the Smith’s Gap Corridor, in Queensland’s Wet Tropics Region.

Nestled between Jappoon National Park and Walter Hill Conservation Park at Smith’s Gap, the 17-hectare property had been a ‘missing link’ in a major cassowary corridor in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.

This historically cleared banana plantation is being restored back to its rainforest roots thanks to the partnerships between QTFN, C4, the Gulngay and Djiru people, other conservation partners, and the wider community. Volunteers and contractors came together time and time again at community plantings to plant over 20,000 native trees across over six hectares and managing weeds across a further 10.5 hectares.

Gurrbum was declared a Nature Refuge in December 2021; the property’s 15.52 hectares of lowland vine forest are now protected.

    • Provided the financial backing required to purchase strategically important land in a critical corridor to increase cassowary movement and assist in genetic diversity of the southern cassowary in the Tully and Mission Beach areas.
    • Collaborating with Traditional Owners – the Gulngay and Djiru peoples, C4 and our other conservation partners, and the local community to transform the former banana plantation into cassowary habitat.
    • Revegetating 6 hectares with the planting of native trees and plant species, with over 20,000 native trees.
    • Piloting the use of the Miyawaki planting method on two plots on Gurrbum Reserve to accelerate rainforest reforestation on the property in partnership with C4 and fellow Cassowary Coast conservation group, Brettacorp Inc.
    • Protecting 15.5 hectares of the property including remnant vegetation under a nature refuge agreement, ensuring sanctuary for the southern cassowary for years to come.
    • Supporting the Cassowary Recovery Team and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to establish a vegetated land bridge to be known as the Cassowary Bridge over the Bruce Highway, a few kilometres north of Gurrbum Nature Refuge.
    Want to explore more – watch the Cassowary Conservation Documentary

    • Between December 2019 and the start of the 2020 Wet Season, 6,620 native trees have been planted to restore and enhance the property’s biodiversity, including cassowary food sources such as bandicoot berry (Leea indica), cassowary plum (Cerbera floribunda), and quandong (Elaeocarpus johnsonii).
    • The presence of cassowary scat amongst the new plantings is an encouraging sign that the cassowary once again feel welcome to roam and forage on the property.
    • In just over 12 months, the growth rate of habitat trees on the first 100m2 plot planted using the Miyawaki method and funded by Sugi is astounding. Each Miyawaki plot on Gurrbum Reserve features 75-plus plant species and up to 4 trees per square metre.
    • The cassowary is fundamental to the survival and diversity of the Wet Tropics rainforest.
    • With possibly as few as 1,500 southern cassowary estimated to remain in the wild, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a stronghold for their conservation.
    • When revegetated, Gurrbum Reserve will be a crucial vegetation link between the surrounding national parks and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
    “The Miyawaki provides a simple, effective and sustainable reforestation solution. We love that QTFN has allowed us to do this on their property and raise awareness of how we can do something that has a direct, positive result and leaves a legacy for future generations.”

    Brett Kraus, Brettacorp Inc.

    “This land will support Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra people to care for their lands and develop economic and community potential, ensuring culture, integrity and optimisation of benefits for Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners.”

    Kupa Teao, CEO, Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation

    • C4 Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation
    • Queensland Department of Environment and Science
    • Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service
    • Terrain NRM
    • Brettacorp Inc.
    • Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
    • The Rainforest School, Mission Beach
    • Mission Beach and Tully community volunteers

  • Action & Insight

    Passing protection onto our partners at Gurrbum Nature Refuge

    Excitingly, this year we sold Gurrbum Nature Refuge to our partners the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4), an organisation dedicated to protecting and preserving the unique biodiversity of the Wet Tropics region. C4 co-invested with QTFN to purchase this precious property in 2019. Over the last five years, QTFN and C4 have been […]

    Read more

    Gurrbum Nature Refuge

    We are proud to announce, another Queensland Trust for Nature property, Gurrbum, has been declared as a Nature Refuge. This 15.52 hectares of Lowland vine forest has now been protected in perpetuity to ensure sanctuary for the Endangered Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) for years to come. The Gurrbum Nature Refuge forms a critical part […]

    Read more

    Planting for impact

    In partnership with C4 and fellow Cassowary Coast conservation group, Brettacorp Inc., QTFN has piloted the use of the Miyawaki planting method on two plots on its Gurrbum Reserve to accelerate rainforest reforestation on the property. A globally recognised planting method, Miyawaki is proven to create fast growing, high density, high biodiversity and high carbon […]

    Read more

Our work
  • Provided the financial backing required to purchase strategically important land in a critical corridor to increase cassowary movement and assist in genetic diversity of the southern cassowary in the Tully and Mission Beach areas.
  • Collaborating with Traditional Owners – the Gulngay and Djiru peoples, C4 and our other conservation partners, and the local community to transform the former banana plantation into cassowary habitat.
  • Revegetating 6 hectares with the planting of native trees and plant species, with over 20,000 native trees.
  • Piloting the use of the Miyawaki planting method on two plots on Gurrbum Reserve to accelerate rainforest reforestation on the property in partnership with C4 and fellow Cassowary Coast conservation group, Brettacorp Inc.
  • Protecting 15.5 hectares of the property including remnant vegetation under a nature refuge agreement, ensuring sanctuary for the southern cassowary for years to come.
  • Supporting the Cassowary Recovery Team and the Department of Transport and Main Roads to establish a vegetated land bridge to be known as the Cassowary Bridge over the Bruce Highway, a few kilometres north of Gurrbum Nature Refuge.
Want to explore more – watch the Cassowary Conservation Documentary

Our impact
  • Between December 2019 and the start of the 2020 Wet Season, 6,620 native trees have been planted to restore and enhance the property’s biodiversity, including cassowary food sources such as bandicoot berry (Leea indica), cassowary plum (Cerbera floribunda), and quandong (Elaeocarpus johnsonii).
  • The presence of cassowary scat amongst the new plantings is an encouraging sign that the cassowary once again feel welcome to roam and forage on the property.
  • In just over 12 months, the growth rate of habitat trees on the first 100m2 plot planted using the Miyawaki method and funded by Sugi is astounding. Each Miyawaki plot on Gurrbum Reserve features 75-plus plant species and up to 4 trees per square metre.
  • The cassowary is fundamental to the survival and diversity of the Wet Tropics rainforest.
  • With possibly as few as 1,500 southern cassowary estimated to remain in the wild, the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area is a stronghold for their conservation.
  • When revegetated, Gurrbum Reserve will be a crucial vegetation link between the surrounding national parks and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.
“The Miyawaki provides a simple, effective and sustainable reforestation solution. We love that QTFN has allowed us to do this on their property and raise awareness of how we can do something that has a direct, positive result and leaves a legacy for future generations.”

Brett Kraus, Brettacorp Inc.

“This land will support Eastern Kuku Yalanjiwarra people to care for their lands and develop economic and community potential, ensuring culture, integrity and optimisation of benefits for Kuku Yalanji Traditional Owners.”

Kupa Teao, CEO, Jabalbina Aboriginal Corporation

Who’s involved?
  • C4 Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation
  • Queensland Department of Environment and Science
  • Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service
  • Terrain NRM
  • Brettacorp Inc.
  • Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
  • The Rainforest School, Mission Beach
  • Mission Beach and Tully community volunteers

Action & Insight

Action & Insight

Passing protection onto our partners at Gurrbum Nature Refuge

Excitingly, this year we sold Gurrbum Nature Refuge to our partners the Community for Coastal and Cassowary Conservation (C4), an organisation dedicated to protecting and preserving the unique biodiversity of the Wet Tropics region. C4 co-invested with QTFN to purchase this precious property in 2019. Over the last five years, QTFN and C4 have been […]

Read more

Gurrbum Nature Refuge

We are proud to announce, another Queensland Trust for Nature property, Gurrbum, has been declared as a Nature Refuge. This 15.52 hectares of Lowland vine forest has now been protected in perpetuity to ensure sanctuary for the Endangered Southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii) for years to come. The Gurrbum Nature Refuge forms a critical part […]

Read more

Planting for impact

In partnership with C4 and fellow Cassowary Coast conservation group, Brettacorp Inc., QTFN has piloted the use of the Miyawaki planting method on two plots on its Gurrbum Reserve to accelerate rainforest reforestation on the property. A globally recognised planting method, Miyawaki is proven to create fast growing, high density, high biodiversity and high carbon […]

Read more

Property details

Location
Size17 ha
Tenure
Price SOLD