Joanne Thompson is the owner of owner of Urliup Farm, a property located in Urliup, approximately 25km southwest of Tweed Heads, New South Wales. The property is a residence and wildlife-friendly sanctuary, and it is Joanne’s intent to maintain the sanctuary as a home and a natural habitat for wildlife.
The property covers approximately 53 hectares of undulating land, and features commercial mango trees as well as two dams. The majority of remnant vegetation is comprised of brush box open forest, with areas of rainforest dominated by Bangalow palms (Archontophoenix cunninghamiana). More than 13 threatened vegetation species have been recorded on Urliup Farm, with the northeast section of the property mapped as being of very high ecological status as per the Tweed Vegetation Management Strategy.
Several landslides have occurred after extensive flooding in 2017, rendering some parts of the property inaccessible. As a result some areas have become overgrown with weeds and may require maintenance in the future.
Wildlife species known to inhabit the sanctuary include eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), lace monitors (Varanus varius), various snakes and birdwing butterflies. A wide range of bird species are also present including king parrots (Alisterus scapularis), rainbow lorikeets (Trichoglossus moluccanus), sulphur-crested (Cacatua galerita) and black (Calyptorhynchus spp.) cockatoos, Wompoo fruit doves (Ptilinopus magnificus) and white-bellied sea eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster).
