Helping nature recover in the Tall White Gums Reserve
‘Tall White Gums’ is an 18 ha conservation property on the southern slopes of the Leven River valley at Gunns Plains, northwest Tasmania. It is one of four contiguous covenanted properties protecting 69 ha of white gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) wet forest, listed as Critically Endangered under the EPBC Act. John and Annette have owned and cared for this beautiful property for 15 years, and it is now time for them to pass it on the its next custodians. Here, John and Annette tell their story.
Our conservation journey
In 2010, Annette and I purchased this Revolving Fund property from the Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) as our bush home and retirement project. Fifteen years on, most weeds are gone or close to eradication, four hectares of degraded covenanted land have been revegetated, and the once-rundown house is now a comfortable home for future stewards of the 14 hectares of protected land.
A brief history
Before the traditional owners of the valley were dispossessed of their land in the early 1800s, mature E. viminalis wet forest covered the basalt slopes of the Leven River valley. About 30 hectares of open grassland lay along the plains by the river.
Henry Hellyer of the Van Diemen’s Land Company likely first visited in 1828, naming it Palmers Plains. In the 1860s, Ronald Campbell Gunn promoted the valley for agriculture and timber.
By the late 1800s, settlers had ringbarked the valley’s giant white gums, leaving them standing because they were too large to fell with axes. Livestock grazed among the dead trees. In the early 1900s, these dead trees (‘stags’) were gradually cleared from flatter areas, with steeper slopes left alone until mid-century.
Aerial photographs from 1946 show that most of the area now known as Tall White Gums had been cleared. Only steep rocky slopes and a limestone outcrop still supported canopy species. Farming continued in flatter areas, while the rest began reverting to bush. A shack near a creek – gone by 1951 – likely introduced invasive garden species such as blue periwinkle, Italian lily, and forget-me-not. Blackberry was probably already present, having been introduced regionally in the 1840s.
From the mid-20th century, farming continued on cleared areas. Regenerating forest seemed untouched, though likely browsed or burned. A new dwelling was added in 1991.
TLC’s involvement
In 2008, TLC purchased the property now known as Tall White Gums to protect E. viminalis forest, vital for the survival of threatened species such as swift parrot. This added to 55 hectares of forested land adjacent forest land that had already been protected through conservation covenants under the Private Forest Reserves Program, bringing the total protected area to 69 hectares.
Taking over in 2010
In February 2010, we discovered TLC’s ‘For Sale’ signs while viewing another property. Unfamiliar with Tasmania’s covenant system, we were drawn to the opportunity to live on and care for threatened vegetation.
The covenant on 14 hectares – including 4 hectares of degraded land – was registered on 31 August 2010, and settlement followed soon after. It was added under the Protected Areas on Private Land (PAPL) program.
Fifteen years of rehabilitation
We began weed control immediately, and the work gathered momentum in 2012 with a four-year Australian Government Biodiversity Fund grant. The biggest challenge was Italian arum lily. There was no proven way to eradicate it, and birds spread isolated plants across the site. Through systematic trials, we found that a metsulfuron-methyl-based herbicide, used with a penetrant and follow-up treatments was effective.
We also underestimated onion twitch (Arrhenatherum elatius). Because pademelons avoid it, the grass spread quickly and became dominant. Combined with intense browsing of native seedlings, this prevented native flora recruitment.
Some species were easier to control: blackberry in pasture and roadsides, and Glyceria maxima upstream of willows. Success hinged on trialling treatments, regular follow-up, and ongoing monitoring.
To speed up forest recovery, we planted E. viminalis seedlings early while light levels were still high. Possums decimated the initial planting, so we developed reusable floppy-lid guards. Other species – blackwood, stringybark, dogwood, woolly teatree, cheesewood, prickly box, and native currant – also needed guards 850 mm high to deter pademelon damage.
We fenced 7 hectares below Raymond Road with 11-wire wallaby mesh to stabilise pademelon numbers and allow natural recruitment. The mesh allows young wallabies, bandicoots, and echidnas through, and doesn’t block climbing marsupials.
This strategy worked. E. viminalis seedlings now regenerate naturally in open areas – something not seen before the fence was installed. With the forest maturing, wildlife is returning, including a Tasmanian pygmy possum recently spotted in one of our planted gums.
For the next stewards
The covenanted land is well on the path to becoming healthy, self-sustaining E. viminalis wet forest, but some challenges remain. Italian lily and onion twitch need continued control, and understorey diversity can still improve.
Ongoing vigilance is essential on conservation land near farms and roads. Weed seed is spread by birds, vehicles, and mowers. Thistles arrive every February. Storms can damage fences, risking cattle intrusion. Living on-site helps manage these threats quickly.
A privileged experience
It has been a privilege to spend the past 14 years observing and learning about the E. viminalis wet forest community around us. It’s been a successful retirement project in so many ways, but it is time to hand over to the next custodians, reassured by the knowledge that the conservation covenant is registered on the land title in perpetuity.
John Thompson and Annette Vojinov
The property, which was on the market at the time of writing (January 2026), can be viewed here.