TAS: Hillend - Bob Elliston

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2 TAS: Hillend - Bob Elliston "Hillend" is a 60 hectare property situated on North Bruny Island. It is a dedicated wildlife sanctuary and it is also a residence owned by Bob Elliston. It is Bob's intention to preserve most of the land for the conservation of the many species that naturally live there. At present a tourist operator takes day-tours on a circuit around the property. It is also a tentative hope that maybe, in the future, some modest and affordable visitor accommodation could be provided. It is also hoped that a small part of the land might be used to host the Bruny Island World Music Festival, which could be held at the end of March each year. In the 1960's twenty acres of "Hillend" were given (from the middle of the property) to the people of Bruny Island for their use in perpetuity as an airstrip. As a consequence, the land is easy to find. The airstrip is beside the main road at the southern end of the north island and scenic flights are currently being held from here. The property is only a couple of kilometres north of the well-known isthmus of land called 'The Neck' which joins the two parts of the island and which contains the island's famous colony of fairy penguins. For international travellers wanting to gain an impression of Bruny Island, the two parts of the island are roughly the same size as the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo put together. 2 / 5

3 "Hillend" due from covered many White-Faced Cattle The to Elizabeth predated known the to North-Eastern species northern Egret. extensive with surf-roaring also by where twentieth-century coastal Heron, borders "Bruny of end the water-loving patches border of colony Masked ocean-beach wattle Island a greater tannin of of and of Neck Button "Hillend" Lapwing, birds. Adventure Short-tailed humans. flavoured other Game (of Grass These hardy is greater various "Hillend" marked Reserve." coastal Bay, on Shearwaters include: plants. low-lying Adventure the terns, by lake also Arch Black From the the called borders areas Rock, very (Mutton Bay) Pied the Swan, "Big popular of shores Moorina the by Oystercatcher, the birds) many Lagoon". sand-dunes National land.) walking of was Bay species the (The Parks lake once and track and that lake of to tannin one heavily controlled duck, Cape rarely, which is can separated thickly flavour Queen see leads a area is 3 / 5

4 The Tea-Tree heath, old species Orchid "Hillend" Pardalote can magnificent Yellow-tailed Kookaburras, gum tell vegetation plus Society of trees. is they thickets and native host some birds Black Tree fly the The can on to heath so nest peat and Swift "Hillend" Martins plants Cockatoos, be fast! least some found areas and Parrot. the From that two and is even low-lying wider seeking and mixed; rare time That's Superb (in to Boronia. sought-after region. season) and isolated to some the to woodland. time Fairy-wrens, hard-to-find-bird say, native Birds After dry Welcome a spots Bob White-bellied by eucalypt orchids seen a The cool is enthusiasts of sure Currawongs, heavy Swallows. soils more fire, in forest species, bloom. range Sea if commonly clay has there include with Eagle that seen from these Flame is many accommodate one, native may Swift include sandy-loam are Robins, extensive people be the Parrots, orchids, Quail, seen Forty-spotted Dusky from that some areas as but many these supports Robins, who very of 4 / 5

5 Other rufogriseus are Tachyglossus Dasyurus Possum Cercartetus ), present. There seen. Jack-Jumper population seek good Bob, Grateful Birds. an (1987). plentiful and Mammals, numerous the medical lookout The wildlife the many are acknowledgements ( owner viverrinus [somewhat many Eastern creature are lepidus other (Myrmecia and on help A aculeatus and allergic of field other always small "Hillend", immediately. Quoll not that property guide. unwelcome] species, too the mammals ( pilosula). them. wearing shy, human can to include Dave of seasonally Anyone However, be course, long Common This which visitor contacted Watts Bennett's pants who are including will the Echidna can for Brushtail is hard tucked want by danger his stung [or give potential to two Red-necked] avoid skinks ( a into see, by Possum, of painful lovely this either your but visitors and ant, books: which sting socks. snakes, plus Jumper wallabies or easily on and bitten are (elusively) Field Ph. avoided but Ant, about almost No: by Guide (Macropus (1999) these also a % snake, the certainly by to known are of and Little keeping Tasmanian the rarely should ) which human Pygmy the a 5 / 5