The Greggs donated $10 million via the Great Southern Land Conservancy to purchase roughly 7,000 hectares (about 17,000 acres) southwest of Port Macquarie, NSW, converting former cattle and logging land into a connected wildlife refuge. The purchase links six adjoining properties to expand habitat for koalas, greater gliders, quolls and glossy black cockatoos. Conservation priorities include fire prevention, invasive‑weed and feral‑animal control, habitat restoration and monitoring with 280 camera traps; an intensive koala survey is planned.
Australian Billionaire Donates $10 Million to Create 17,000‑Acre Wildlife Refuge in NSW
Photo Credit: Great Southern Land Conservancy
Australian philanthropists Mike and Sue Gregg have donated $10 million to convert approximately 7,000 hectares (about 17,000 acres) of former cattle‑grazing and logging land into a private wildlife refuge southwest of Port Macquarie, New South Wales.
“We found we had made a bit more money than we ever thought we would, and to us that came with responsibility — we've got to think about how we're going to do something with this, and it's not buying a big yacht,” Mike Gregg told the Sydney Morning Herald.
The purchase was made through the Great Southern Land Conservancy, a private conservation charity the couple co‑founded. By linking six adjoining properties and connecting them to nearby protected areas, the conservancy aims to create a larger, contiguous refuge that will improve habitat connectivity, support species survival, aid wildfire recovery and strengthen climate resilience.
Habitat and Wildlife
The landscape includes wet forest, rainforest‑edged gorges, rivers and grassy woodland that provide habitat for koalas, greater gliders, spotted‑tail quolls, glossy black cockatoos and other threatened species. Some parcels were reportedly still being logged during the final inspections, underscoring the immediate need for protection and restoration.
Conservation Strategy
The conservancy plans targeted work on fire prevention, invasive weed control, feral animal management and restoration of previously cleared areas. Leaders say the approach will emphasise both ecological recovery after fires and long‑term resilience to climate change.
Monitoring will include an array of 280 camera traps across the reserve. Atticus Fleming, former chief of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service who now leads the charity, expects an upcoming intensive koala survey may show this reserve contains the largest koala population on privately owned land in New South Wales.
Public Reaction and Broader Context
The announcement attracted attention online after being shared on r/UpliftingNews, drawing praise for the Greggs' stewardship and critical notes about relying on wealthy donors to fund conservation. One Reddit commenter wrote that they would do the same if they were a billionaire, while others argued that systemic public investment and policy are needed so conservation does not depend solely on private philanthropy.
This project illustrates how private capital and local conservation organisations can rapidly secure and restore critical habitat, while also highlighting the broader policy conversations about who should fund and manage nature protection.
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