Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / NSW / Murrumbidgee Dreaming

Cheryl Dickson and Guy Palframan are the owners of Murrumbidgee Dreaming, a property situated in the Snowy Mountains, approximately 15km from Adaminaby, New South Wales. Originally part of a sheep farming enterprise, this property is now a residence and dedicated wildlife sanctuary. Cheryl and Guy intend to continue conserving and restoring the native vegetation and are implementing permaculture techniques to rehabilitate the land. The owners are also using the land to agist several cattle for a neighbour.

The property spans approximately 57 hectares with 250 metres of frontage on to the Murrumbidgee River. Situated close to a crown reserve, the property is comprised of eucalypt woodland and native grassland. Dominant native species include snow gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora), candlebark (Eucalyptus rubida), white gums (E. dalrympleana), black sally gums (E. stellulata), wattle (Acacia spp.) and tea trees (Leptospermum spp.). The property is also home to critically endangered Monaro woodlands.

A wide range of native wildlife are found on the property including platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), red-necked (Macropus rufogriseus) and swamp (Wallabia bicolor) wallabies, eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), microbats and snakes.

An array of birdlife is also present including laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), gang-gang cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum), yellow-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus funereus), wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla), crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans), scarlet robins (Petroica boodang) and finches.