Enjoy the best of South Australia in this eco-friendly, off-grid holiday home, situated on the cliffs overlooking the magnificent Murray River. Set 20 minutes from the towns of Morgan and Waikerie, Mallyons on the Murray provides the perfect place for nature lovers and adventurers alike.
Explore the river from a kayak or tinnie, or head to one of the nearby Conservation Parks to see the local wombat colonies and birdlife. For the twitchers, Gluepot Reserve (owned by Birdlife Australia) is a must and just an hour away.
In the evenings, relax by the cosy indoor wood heater or in summer enjoy the river breeze and a spectacular sunset.
Marian MacLucas and Richard, Nick, Flick and Rita Builder are the owners of Mallyons on the Murray, which covers approximately 1 hectare in a strip running from Goyder Highway to the Murray river with low lying mallee river flats, sheet limestone and sandstone cliffs. The eastern boundary connects to a conservation strip and the western boundary adjoins to Crown Land on the river’s edge.
Vegetation on the property is dominated by river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), black box (E. largiflorens), silver senna (Senna artemisioides), saltbush (Atriplex spp.), lignum (Muehlenbeckia florulenta) and various acacia species including bluebush (Acacia brachybotrya).
Wildlife found on the property includes southern hairy nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons), eastern grey (Macropus giganteus) and red (Macropus rufus) kangaroos, shingleback lizards (Tiliqua rugosa), eastern blue tongue lizards (Tiliqua scincoides scincoides), eastern brown (Pseudonaja textilis) and red-bellied black (Pseudechis porphyriacus) snakes, short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and a variety of geckos and frogs. Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii), golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) and Murray catfish (Tandanus tandanus) are also found in the river.
A wide variety of birds is also present including whistling kites (Haliastur sphenurus), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), Australian pelicans (Pelecanus conspicillatus), Australian wood ducks (Chenonetta jubata), wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), little corellas (Cacatua sanguinea), eastern rosellas (Platycercus eximus), rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), Pacific black ducks (Anas superciliosa), white plumed honeyeaters (Lichenostomus penicillatus), magpies (Cracticus tibicen), mistletoe birds (Dicaeum hirundinaceum) and willie wagtails (Rhipidura leucophrys).
This sanctuary is featured in Wildlife Lands 21!
Built in 2000 off-the-grid by our parents, our eco-house sits high on the cliff overlooking the flats and sweeping bends of the Murray River. Wide verandas and large windows absorb you in the view with its age old river red gums and calm green waters interrupted only by whistling and black kites above, pelicans and the occasional houseboat. In the evening we enjoy the most spectacular sunsets with a drink and nibbles. Steps and vehicle tracks lead down to the river flat for easy walks, boating or swimming. More energetic walks along the cliff top will reveal fossilised limestone and active wombat habitation.
The wombats are relatively new to the cliff area and have the best views. They seem to be doing well and are out of the way of farmers. Mallee eucalypts and native bushes appropriate to the region have been planted on the once totally cleared block to attract smaller birds and other wildlife. You’re likely to see bright yellow regent parrots, mallee ringnecks, galahs, rosellas, honeyeaters and wrens. With an average annual rainfall of only 250mm it’s challenging to reintroduce plant life to the block but we’re hoping to build a gravity fed system with tank to continue our revegetation program.
One of the property owners is conveniently located 200m down the dirt road, living in the restored historic site of an old stage coach stop. Nick and Rita have an organic fruit and veggie farm operating and will meet and greet you on arrival if you come and stay with us. We have placed our WLT sign on the front gate and love the raised consciousness this program brings to our precious bushland and wildlife.
Contact the owner
This sanctuary has been listed by Marian MacLucas and co. who can be contacted by phone on 0408613749 or marianmacl@hotmail.com
