Conservation Group Raises Almost $20m to Protect Critical Far North Queensland Cattle Station

A conservation group is racing to raise the final funds needed to acquire and protect Wooroora station, a 20,000-hectare cattle property in far north Queensland that bridges wet tropics rainforests and savannah woodlands. Bush Heritage has secured more than $19m through private donations toward a $24.7m target, which covers both the purchase of the land and its initial five-year management.

Ecological Significance and Biodiversity

Located approximately 100km south-west of Cairns on the lands of the Jirrbal people, Wooroora spans largely intact wet sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland. It borders Bush Heritage's existing Yourka Reserve and sits within a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. Ecologists have recorded at least 12 threatened species and more than 30 species of conservation significance on the property, including cassowaries, Lumholtz's tree-kangaroos, and the northernmost refuge population of koalas.

Dr Jo Axford, Bush Heritage’s head of Queensland and the Northern Territory, noted that the property's unique topography—ranging from 1,000 metres to 660 metres in elevation—creates diverse microclimates that allow species like the critically endangered magnificent brood frog to find climate refuges. The station is also considered a vital missing link in a massive 429,000-hectare nature corridor stretching toward Cape York.

Cultural Connection and Traditional Ownership

Jirrbal senior elder Uncle Kurt Noble highlighted the deep historical and cultural significance of the acquisition, noting that restricted private ownership over generations had kept families away from ancestral lands. Jirrbal representatives, including Wabubadda Aboriginal Corporation chair Liam Roberts, have expressed intentions to jointly manage the reserve, re-establishing access for rangers, protecting sacred artefacts along traditional trails, and allowing younger generations to connect with country, language, and cultural sites.

Funding and Timeline

Bush Heritage chief executive Rachel Lowry described the purchase as the organisation's most ambitious single acquisition in its 35-year history. Major contributions include a $6m donation from an anonymous Australian philanthropist and nearly $2.5m from the foundation associated with US outdoor clothing company Patagonia.

With fundraising underway for over 18 months, the organisation faces a deadline of 24 December to raise the remaining $5.3m required to complete the purchase and secure the land's long-term protection.

Practical Implications and Verification

Readers interested in the details of the acquisition, the broader nature corridor project, or how to support the remaining fundraising effort can verify the announcement and review updates directly through the original reporting published by [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/29/worldwide-legacy-almost-20m-raised-to-protect-majestic-tract-of-land-in-far-north-queensland).

• Confirmed Details: Bush Heritage has raised over $19m toward a $24.7m goal; the property covers over 20,000 hectares; the fundraising deadline is 24 December; the land contains significant biodiversity and connects to the Jirrbal people's traditional country.
• Unknowns: The exact final acquisition arrangements and the full extent of undiscovered species inhabiting the property's remote gullies remain to be fully documented.