Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / QLD / Elrem Naillil

Kevin and Robyn Jackson are the owners of Elrem Naillil, a property situated on Tinana Creek in Goomboorian, approximately 23km northeast of Gympie, Queensland. Originally part of an old dairy farm, the property has been developed as a nature and wildlife sanctuary for the past 40 years. Kevin and Robyn wish to maintain and preserve the property for the current and future benefit of local native flora and fauna. The property is registered with Land for Wildlife and has participated in the National Landcare 20 Million Trees Programme, as well as the Koala Action Gympie Region habitat plantings.

The property covers 12 hectares and encompasses four ecosystems- Scribbly Gum (Eucalyptus racemosa) Open Woodland; Broad-leaved Paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia) wetlands; Blue Gum (E. tereticornis) Open Forest and endangered Lowland Subtropical Rainforest featuring the vulnerable species Quassia (Samadera bidwillii). The property also features riparian and wetland habitats, home to a wide range of native species.

Wildlife is abundant and includes eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), red-necked wallabies (M. rufogriseus), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), antechinus species, short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula) and ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums, grey-headed (Pteropus poliocephalus) and black (Pteropus alecto) flying foxes and microbats.

A wide range of snakes and lizards abound including the carpet python (Morelia spilota), lace monitor (Varanus varius) and the pink-tongued lizard (Cyclodomorphus gerrardii). Eleven species of frogs have been identified including the vulnerable tusked frog (Adelotus brevis) and the endangered giant barred frog (Mixophyes iteratus).

Wetland species include darters (Anhinga novaehollandiae), dusky moorhens (Gallinula tenebrosa), Eurasian coots (Fulica atra), forest kingfishers (Todiramphus macleayii), eastern snake-necked turtles (Chelodina longicollis), eastern water dragons (Physignathus lesueurii), eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus), rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) and floodplain mussels (Velesunio ambiguus).

A vast array of birdlife is also present including grey shrike-thrushes (Colluricincla harmonica), king parrots (Alisterus scapularis), brush turkeys (Alectura lathami), buff-banded rails (Gallirallus philippensis), eastern whipbirds (Psophodes olivaceus), brown cuckoo doves (Macropygia phasianella), marble (plumed) frogmouths (Podargus ocellatus plumiferus), eastern yellow robins (Eopsaltria australis), Pacific bazas (Aviceda subcristata), Lewin’s honeyeaters (Meliphaga lewinii), scarlet honeyeaters (Myzomela sanguinolenta) and little wattlebirds (Anthochaera chrysoptera).

Visiting species include swamp harriers (Circus approximans), comb-crested jacanas (Metopidius gallinacea), jabirus (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus), magpie geese (Anseranas semipalmata), black swans (Cygnus atratus), pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), hardheads (Aythya australis), egrets and herons (Ardea sp.), royal (Platalea regia) and yellow-billed (Platalea flavipes) spoonbills, powerful owls (Ninox strenua), white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax).