John and Penny Smith are the owners of Tallygang Retreat, a property situated in Wombeyan Caves, approximately 80km northeast of Goulburn, New South Wales. The property is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary, and it is the owners’ intention to preserve it for native species. John and Penny wish to enhance the existing habitat by managing invasive weeds and feral animals and by supporting local birds and wildlife. They also plan to increase the number of large eucalyptus trees on the property to encourage the establishment of a koala population.
Tallygang Retreat spans 97 hectares across undulating hills, with around 5% covered in native grasslands and the remainder comprised of woodlands. Vegetation is characterised as eucalypt and acacia woodland, which is regenerating after the 2020 bushfires.
A wide range of native species are present including bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus), eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor).
Birdlife is abundant and includes scarlet robins (Petroica boodang), superb fairy wrens (Malurus cyaneus), laughing kookaburras (Dacelo novaeguineae), gang-gang cockatoos (Callocephalon fimbriatum), galahs (Eolophus roseicapilla) and glossy black-cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus lathami).
