Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / NSW / Pavla’s Refuge

Pavla Pinkawa is the owner of a property situated in Bodalla, approximately 170km southeast of Goulburn, New South Wales. The property is a residence as well as a wildlife-friendly sanctuary, and houses a small orchard. The property is currently maintained by caretakers and Pavla is bequeathing it to the Church as a hermitage and retreat. Pavla intends to maintain the natural values of the property for the benefit of people and wildlife.

The property covers 7.68 hectares and is bounded by the Tuross River to the west. The area around the residential buildings at the northern boundary is cleared and consists primarily of grassland, while the rest of the property is covered by bushland. Vegetation primarily consists of Eucalypts, in particular spotted gums (Corymbia maculata). Casuarinas, ferns, staghorns (Platycerium spp.) and orchids are also found throughout the property.

An abundance of wildlife is present including eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) and brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula) and ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums. Lace monitors (Varanus varius) and various species of snake are also found on the property.

The property provides habitat for a wide range of birdlife including wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae), satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), superb lyrebirds (Menura novaehollandiae), bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) and various parrots.