Accommodation and storage
Two single roomed, water-tight, insect-proof sheds (see photograph A), both with slow combustion wood burning heaters and an outside rock kitchen. The property features two water tanks (1500L and 600L) and is accessible by 2WD vehicles. No internet coverage, sewage or septic system.
Property features
A 212-hectare property uphill from Wee Jasper and sitting on the edge of the Buccleuch forest in New South Wales. The southeast portion of the sanctuary straddles Micalong Creek (see photograph B) – a tributary of the Goodradigbee River.
As part of the Micalong valley the property contains an interesting array of land types – from crests, steep slopes, an impressive gorge (see photograph C) and a significant area of creek flats (see photograph D).
It is well timbered with a range of eucalypts (See photographs E and F), many of which are old-growth trees and have numerous hollows and nesting spots. Wildlife abounds, including gliders, wallabies, platypus, possums and an array of birdlife.
Simple tracks have been established (deploying sound soil conservation principles) to give 4WD vehicle access to most parts of the property. The NSW “Hume and Hovel Walking Track” goes along the western boundary.
The Sanctuary
David Cummings and Mary Lush are the owners of Micalong Descents, a property situated along Micalong Creek in New South Wales. The property is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary, protected in-perpetuity with a Conservation Agreement through the Biodiversity Conservation Trust. David and Mary have maintained and restored native vegetation on Micalong Descents for over 40 years, and now hope to find a likeminded buyer to continue their stewardship of the land.
The property spans 212 hectares on a well vegetated bush block straddling the valley of Micalong Creek, with 2.2 kilometres of creek frontage. Elevation ranges from 630-890 metres above sea level and the property features creek flats, steep slopes, hilly peaks and an impressive gorge. The land forms part of a significant wildlife corridor linking to the Bondo State Forest and may provide habitat for spotted-tailed quolls.
Vegetation is characterised by peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata), red stringybark (E. macrorhyncha), apple box (E. bridgesiana), snow gum (E. pauciflora), mountain swamp gum (E. camphora) and manna gum (E. viminalis) woodlands.
An abundance of native wildlife is present on the property, including eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), red-necked (Macropus rufogriseus) and swamp (Wallabia bicolor) wallabies, platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), common (Trichosurus vulpecula) and mountain (T. caninus) brushtail possums, ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), feathertail (Acrobates pygmaeus) and sugar (Petaurus breviceps) gliders, southern greater gliders (Petauroides volans), antechinuses and several species of microbats. One of the reasons for enacting the conservation agreement is the potential occurrence of spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus).
An array of birdlife is also present including gang-gang (Callocephalon fimbriatum) and sulphur-crested (Cacatua galerita) cockatoos, yellow-tailed black cockatoos (Zanda funerea), galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), sacred kingfishers (Todiramphus sanctus), superb lyrebirds (Menura novaehollandiae), wedge-tailed eagles (Aquila audax), southern boobooks (Ninox novaeseelandiae), satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), fantailed cuckoos (Cacomantis flabelliformis), striated (Pardalotus xanthopygus) and spotted (P. punctatuss) pardalotes, wonga pigeons (Leucosarcia picata), yellow-faced honeyeaters (Lichenostomus chrysops), red-browed finches (Neochmia temporalis), silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis), golden (Pachycephala pectoralis) and rufous (P. rufiventis) whistlers and cormorants (Phalacrocorax sp.).
Contact the owner
This sanctuary has been listed by David Cummings and Mary Lush who can be contacted by phone on micalong@aupuzzle.com.au
