Fairyland - Bruny Island - Tasmania
About the Project: Fairyland, Bruny Island (Lunawanna Allonah)
- This project focuses on the preservation and ecological restoration of a unique section of land and coastal ecosystem on Bruny Island, one of Australia’s six priority islands recognised in the Federal Government’s 2022–2032 Threatened Species Action Plan.
- Bruny Island sits off the coast of southern Tasmania. Its landmass extends southwest from Storm Bay, almost reaching Australia’s southernmost point in the wild Southern Ocean.
- The specific lands under conservation were named “Fairyland” in 1840 by early European settlers, inspired by the colonies of Little (Fairy) Penguins that inhabit the ocean dunes.
- This area holds deep cultural significance and has been traversed, used, and cared for by many generations of local and visiting Tasmanian Aboriginal groups.
Fairyland Fauna
The fauna community present at Fairyland is of exceptional conservation value. The high diversity of habitats, including wetland, heath, and coastal woodland support numerous threatened, endemic, and migratory species.
The Eastern Quoll
Dasyurus viverinus
Endangered
(EPBCA 1999)
The Eastern Quoll is a mid-sized marsupial carnivore that was once widespread in southeast Australia.It is now only found in Tasmania, having become extinct on the Australian mainland in the 1960s due to habitat clearance and predation from foxes. In recent years there has been a rapid decline in the Tasmanian population, and it is now listed as endangered. Bruny Island is a stronghold for eastern quoll and Fairyland supports an abundant population of this iconic species.
The Swift Parrot
Lathamus discolor
Critically Endangered
(EPBCA 1999)
The Swift Parrot is a migratory species that spends the summer breeding in southeast Tasmania, before migrating to the Australian mainland over winter. Its primary food source is the nectar produced by Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus). Swift parrots also require old-growth hollow-bearing trees for nesting. Clearing of their habitat for agriculture and forestry has resulted in a decline of over 95% of the pre-European population. Bruny Island is an important breeding location for swift parrots and areas of blue gum and old-growth coastal woodland on Fairyland host swift parrots every year.
The Short Tailed Shearwater
Ardenna tenuirostris
Near threatened
(IUCN)
The Short-Tailed Shearwater (mutton bird, moonbird) is a seabird known for its remarkable long-distance migratory behaviour, often covering thousands of kilometres across oceans. It breeds mainly on small islands off the coast of southern Australia, including Tasmania and notably on Bruny Island. The species is declining due to threats from oceanic pollution, over-fishing, and climate change, which impacts its breeding and feeding grounds. A breeding population at The Neck extends onto Fairyland and managing this important breeding habitat is a conservation priority.
The Fairy Penguin
Eudyptula minor
Near threatened
(IUCN)
The Fairy Penguin occurs along the southern coastline of Australia. It is an extremely adept swimmer and forages primarily on fish, squid and crustaceans. In Tasmania, populations have declined as a result of urban development, attacks from domestic dogs, and predation by feral cats. Bruny Island supports several breeding colonies, including a large colony in coastal sand-dunes along The Neck. This colony extends onto Fairyland and protection of coastal dunes is therefore a priority
Our flagship conservation project
