Leanne Whitham is the owner of Shangrila Stud, a property situated in Monbulk, approximately 60km east of Melbourne, Victoria. The property is a residence, horse stud and wildlife-friendly sanctuary. Leanne wishes to maintain it for these uses, while preserving the property’s native habitat for local wildlife.
The property covers 12.14 hectares and backs on to Monbulk Creek to the east. The front of the block is comprised of pasture, with the remainder comprised of native forest transitioning into a riparian zone along the creekline. Vegetation is comprised of mountain swamp gum (Eucalyptus camphora) forest interspersed with acacia and native shrubs.
Wildlife is abundant on the property and includes bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), a breeding population of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the creek and a wide array of birdlife including tawny frogmouths (Podargus strigoides). Critically endangered helmeted honeyeaters (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) have also been identified in the region.
