Banksia Ridge includes a rare 370 acre wilderness property, 10 minutes drive to the Ninety-Mile Beach at Seaspray, and 35 minutes from Sale. Its secluded location, undisturbed dry sclerophyll forest, and Merriman Creek frontage, make it a haven that’s part of a crucial wildlife corridor from Mullundung State Forest to the sea. A beautiful off grid home completes this gem, which is unique in South Gippsland.
Although my life and heart’s calling has revolved around protecting this special Land for over four decades, it’s time for me to follow other dreams. It’s my fervent wish that its new custodians will also receive and give back, through the deep Nature connection and healing that’s accessible here.
The land comprises four crown allotments, each with frontage to the permanent Merriman Creek. It’s about 50% forest, with predominantly sandy soil. The open spaces are more fertile creek flats. Neighbouring land is privately owned and is mostly bushland.
Banksia Ridge is ideal to host retreats and workshops such as Deep Ecology, Vision Quests, Permaculture, sustainable building, creating communities of trust, Nature based healing, and spirituality. Previous comments include, ” the land at Banksia Ridge was incredibly welcoming and gentle” and ” everyone had stories of depth and transformation”.
House
The house, which sits upon a knoll adjoining a forested ridge, is light, airy, warm, and comfortable. With a longstanding passion for living with a lighter footprint, Wendy designed the house and infrastructure to make it sustainable, thermally efficient, and safe.
The north-facing coluorbond home has three bedrooms, separate bathroom, toilet, and laundry, all leading from the central kitchen/living area. It is efficiently designed to feel spacious, all within 100 sq.m. Large timber-framed double glazed windows throughout and clerestory windows in the living area bring the outside beauty inside, and ensure it always feels light and airy. Full length decks flank the north and south sides, with a verandah on the south.
There’s a colourbond double garage, enlarged to accommodate the power room and extra storage.
An excellent solar power system is mounted on the garage, and provides electricity, including a dedicated 24V DC cable for the low energy DC fridge. Cooking and hot water are currently on LPG gas. However, there’s provision for a slow combustion wet-back stove ready to be installed.
Solar air heating, cooling, and ventilation, delivers warm fresh air on all but the very cloudiest days. A free-standing slow combustion wood heater provides excellent back up on cloudy winter days and nights.
Highly insulated in ceiling, walls, and floor, including double glazed low-e glass windows and doors.
(Insulation is excellent: R7 ceiling batts; R2.5 external walls; 36mm of solid flooring with rockwool underneath; double glazed low-e glass, which has a U-rating equal to having heavy curtains constantly drawn. Inside walls have sound reduction batts which are also heat insulating.)
Ample rainwater is stored in two 22.5ML tanks. A solar pump delivers creek water into a smaller tank, for the garden and toilet.
An approved Fire Bunker was installed in 2011. Other fire risk mitigation measures include a fire pump, removable window protection, garage roller door ember protection.
Vegetation
The bushland is dominated by Banksia Serrata and a few coastal and silver banksia, manna gums and other eucalypts. Other endemic species are blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon), black wattle (Acacia mearnsii), swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia), manuka (Leptospermum scoparium), casuarina, cherry ballart (Exocarpos cupressiformis). Springtime welcomes a variety of orchids and other wildflowers.
Wildlife
The abundance of wildlife includes Strezlecki koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), Eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), lace monitors (Varanus varius), microbats, eastern blue-tongue lizards (Tiliqua scincoides), red-bellied black snakes (Pseudechis porphyriacus), frogs, spiders, scorpions and insects.
A huge variety of birdlife is present. Emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) run free and are often sighted in the open spaces at all stages of their life cycle. Wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax) nest here, and soar over the property. Other species include galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla), gang gang cockatoos, (Callocephalon fimbriatum), crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans), eastern rosellas (Platycercus eximius), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), owls, tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides), magpies (Cracticus tibicen), white-winged choughs (Corcorax melanorhamphos), butcher birds, bronze wings and other pigeons, owls, and wrens. Wild ducks often visit the dam.
This property adjoins another 450 acres of similar topography, vegetation, and creek frontage, which will also be offered for sale in the near future.
For details about the sale of this property email owner Wendy at: banksiaridgesanctuary@gmail.com
