National Indigenous Fire Workshop

With the signing of a new agreement with Landcare Australia our commitment to the Landcare Living Landscapes initiative has been extended for a further three years through to 2022. This significant project, now in its eighth year, has oversight of the Trust’s obligations to protect biodiversity and to promote best- practice agriculture.

Our partnership with Shoalhaven Landcare Association, to re-establish the Stuttering Frog, saw the first frogs released into the Riversdale Creek at a public event in June 2019. In readiness, tree planting and significant weed control have been undertaken throughout the year to enhance wildlife habitat around the creek.

Over the past year we have been sharing care of our landscape with the Mudjingaalbaraga Firesticks team who have been undertaking cultural burning across Bundanon and improving the ecoculture of our bush landscapes. Mudjingaalbaraga worked to bring the National indigenous Firestick conference to Bundanon in July to share knowledge of Indigenous cultural burning practice. With the group we are supporting a University of Wollongong research project to assess the impacts of fire intensity on native species germination across the property and sharing information about the benefits of cultural burning at Bundanon through presentations across the region.

Significant work was undertaken in the heritage precinct at Bundanon to reduce the ground around the historical kitchen and servants’ quarters and to repair structural damage. A contemporary renovation was undertaken on the Eearie Park cottage to convert the former Boyd and Nolan residence into livable accommodation, including the incorporation of a one- bedroom apartment for guests. Under the guidance of architect Glenn Murcutt the Boyd Education Centre experienced a full kitchen refurbishment and repair to the box gutters and veranda awning. Major wet weather events also necessitated major work to swale drains and repairs to woodwork inside the building.