The property
‘Bunderra’ is 120 ha of hilly country and includes a Nature Refuge of 26 ha. It was originally a dairy farm and there are some cleared areas but most of the 120 ha now is uncleared bushland or regrowth. There is a comfortable house with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, a large established garden and 3 sheds.
Nature Refuge
The 26 ha of dry rainforest was declared a Nature Refuge in 2005 because of its value in conserving the regional ecosystem and the wildlife it supports. The Refuge is on the side of a hill and through it runs a dry rocky creekbed where most of the large old trees are found.
House
The Besser brick house was owner-built and has been renovated by subsequent owners. It faces North East with views over the surrounding hills, so is solar passive, warm in Winter and cool in Summer. It is a split-level U-shaped design built around a courtyard with a fishpond. There are 5 stairs between the two levels. On the lower level is the main living area with a lounge room, a dining room, a sunroom, kitchen and laundry and two bedrooms. One of these bedrooms is large and has a small ensuite bathroom and looks out onto the front garden and the bushland. The other bedroom is medium sized and also has a garden outlook. On the upper level is a small bedroom, a large bathroom and separate toilet and a very large backroom which could be used as another bedroom. Great for work from home option, or home based business.
The main kitchen, dining and lounge area has a dark slate tile floor and the rest of the house has light pine-coloured timber floating flooring. The kitchen has recently been renovated with storage drawers and a two-drawer dishwasher. The lower level has 5 sets of French doors so it is light and airy with beautiful bush or garden views out of most doors and windows. There is a verandah on the front and back of the house.
Garden and outdoor living area
The house is set into the side of a hill. On the lower level is a small grassy outdoor living area shaded by a large drunken parrot tree. Beside this are 2 enclosed vegetable gardens, beyond which is a cleared area with a magnificent fig tree and 4 large bunya pines. On the upper level is a gravelled parking area and 2 large sheds, one open and one fully enclosed which could be used as a garage. Away from the house on different parts of the property, is another open shed and a disused piggery. On the hill behind this gravelled area are some avocado trees.
Sloping down from the front of the house is an extensive garden with some fruit trees and native and exotic plants. Fruits include bananas pineapples and mandarins. There is a small Ironbark plantation and a small Bunya Pine plantation down on the flat. These are 2 small experimental plantations both planted about 20 years ago. The Ironbark to be used for fenceposts on the farm and the Bunyas as a potential source of revenue as bush tucker.
There is one fenced 26ha paddock on the hill adjacent to the Nature reserve which could be used for keeping animals and it has a dam. Beautiful views for some eco cabins or possible house site.
For enquiries about this property please contact lbartels@hsi.org.au or call +61 2 9973 1728
The sanctuary
Stuart and Heather Leask are the owners of Bunderra, a property situated in Booie, approximately 15km east of Kingaroy, Queensland. The property is a home and dedicated wildlife sanctuary. Bunderra is also registered with Land for Wildlife, and has 26 hectares protected through a Nature Refuge agreement. It is Stuart and Heather’s intent to sell the property to someone who will continue to conserve the important habitat for wildlife.
Bunderra spans 120 hectares of predominantly hilly uncleared bushland featuring microphyll rainforest and tall open forest, and includes a Nature Refuge encompassing 26 hectares. Approximately 40 hectares of the sanctuary is cleared, and features a house with extensive gardens, sheds, and a dam.
Wildlife is abundant on Bunderra and includes red-necked wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), lace monitors (Varanus varius), carpet pythons (Morelia spilota) and a wide variety of butterflies, frogs and birds such as the Endangered black-breasted buttonquail (Turnix melanogaster).
