Wildlife Land Trust / Sanctuaries / QLD / Eva’s Refuge

Eva Ford is the owner of a property situated in Traveston, approximately 70km northwest of Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The property is a residence and dedicated wildlife sanctuary. Eva and her partner are currently building a cabin for visitors to enjoy the property and will manage the property for the next few years, with plans to sell or gift the land for something more manageable in the future. The property is additionally registered under Land For Wildlife.

The property spans 4 hectares, with three quarters comprised of remnant and regrowth vegetation. Stock has been removed from the formerly pastoral property for 25 years. The property features a residence, sheds, ephemeral gullies, a dam and a vegetable garden.

Vegetation is comprised of mixed communities including shale slopes with spotted gum (Corymbia maculata) as well as grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata) forest with emerging understory on the lower slopes. Remnant rainforest patches are also present throughout the property, as well as native grasslands, both managed and unmanaged.

Wildlife is abundant and includes koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), dingoes (Canis dingo), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), red-necked wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis), antechinuses and microbats. At least 15 species of frogs (including one threatened species) are also present, as well as rare elf skinks (Eroticoscincus graciloides), snakes and freshwater turtles. Around 120 native bird species have also been identified.