Mark and Veronica Hemmett are the owners of Rivendell, a property located in Tuchekoi, approximately 60km northwest of Sunshine Coast, Queensland. The property is a family home as well as a dedicated refuge for wildlife. Although originally cleared of most of its native vegetation, Veronica and Mark have worked to regenerate the land over the last 43 years to restore its natural values and biodiversity. They intend to maintain the property as a residence and wildlife refuge whilst continuing to improve the property through habitat restoration where possible. The property is also registered with Land for Wildlife.
Rivendell covers approximately 68.8 hectares and is situated at the end of a valley, marking the beginning of Chinamans Creek which provides water and habitat for native wildlife. The property is predominately comprised of steep slopes and gullies with an abundance of slate and rocks. The area near the creek features subtropical rainforest species, whilst the drier ridges are dominated by hardwood species. Vegetation includes silky oaks (Grevillea robusta), red cedars (Toona ciliata), crows ashes (Flindersia australis), black wattles (Acacia mearnsii), bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii), macadamias (Macadamia integrifolia), native limes (Citrus australasica), plums (Davidsonia spp.) and a variety of eucalypts and native grasses.
An abundance of native wildlife is found throughout the property including swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), red-necked pademelons (Thylogale thetis), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), lace monitors (Varanus varius), brushtail (Trichosurus vulpecula) and ringtail (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) possums.
A vast array of native birdlife is also present including eastern whipbirds (Psophodes olivaceus), regent bowerbirds (Sericulus chrysocephalus), black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus spp.), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), butcherbirds (Cracticus spp.), magpies (C. tibicen), parrots and native pigeons.
