A family of shepherds on Flinders Island is embracing a transformative conservation effort by turning over their land to the Australian government for an ambitious rewilding project. The initiative aims to restore the island’s original ecosystem by eliminating invasive species and reintroducing endangered marsupials, effectively creating a sanctuary for native wildlife.
The Woolford family, aptly named given their history in sheep farming, has been pasturing sheep for wool production on Flinders Island since 1979. For decades, the business flourished, but the early 2000s saw a significant shift in wool market prices, making sheep farming on the island financially unsustainable. The Woolfords ceased operations, but the ecological scars left by a century of agricultural activity and invasive species persisted. Now, Jonas Woolford has a new vision—to return the land to its natural state and provide a refuge for threatened species. This vision has gained the support of both state and federal authorities, leading to a dedicated AUD$4.8 million rewilding project.
Flinders Island, first charted in 1802 by British explorer Matthew Flinders, was once home to a rich variety of marsupials. Flinders himself recorded sightings of “miniature kangaroos,” which are now identified as the tammar wallaby and the southern brown bandicoot. However, successive waves of human activity brought invasive species that decimated the island’s native fauna.
“There’s black rats which came off of the Kapara shipwreck in 1942 when it ran aground,” Mr. Woolford told ABC News Australia. “Even from 1826, when the sealer Bill Bryant was out there … we know that he was hunting the wallabies along with the seal skins.”
The damage, however, did not stop with rats. Mice followed soon after, and sheep farmers—possibly those predating the Woolfords—introduced cats to control rodent populations. Instead, these predators turned to hunting bandicoots, lizards, and bird species, causing further devastation. Camera trap surveys estimate that there are between 180 and 210 feral cats on the island, posing a major threat to wildlife restoration efforts.
The comprehensive rewilding project is scheduled to launch in May, a carefully chosen timeframe that avoids the seabird nesting season to minimize unintended ecological disruption. The plan involves aerial drops of poisoned bait to target rodents, while advanced drone technology equipped with thermal imaging will assist in locating feral cats. Experts from New Zealand and Tasmania, both regions with experience in large-scale island conservation projects, will lend their expertise to ensure the initiative’s success.
The effort will not end with species eradication. Once the island is declared free of invasive predators, it must remain so for a full year before conservationists reintroduce endangered species such as the tammar wallaby and the southern brown bandicoot. The expectation is that, in the absence of non-native threats, these species will not only survive but thrive, repopulating the island as they did centuries ago.
Unlike many other island habitats affected by human interference, Flinders Island still retains approximately 75% of its native vegetation, offering a promising foundation for ecosystem recovery. Conservationists are eager to see how the environment will respond once natural species are allowed to recolonize unhindered.
“We should actually see a real rebound in native species such as invertebrates and insects, reptile species, and the shorebirds,” said Woolford. “Hopefully, it might be like it was back in February 1802 when Matthew Flinders and his crew first landed on Flinders Island.”
The project is not only about ecological restoration but also represents a significant opportunity for ecotourism along South Australia’s coastline. Flinders Island is already a designated National Marine Park, and the prospect of it becoming a safe haven for rare marsupials could further elevate its status as a conservation and tourism hotspot.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek emphasized the broader importance of the initiative, stating, “The Flinders Island Safe Haven project is vital because there are few places in Australia which provide such a unique opportunity for us to protect our important native wildlife as we strive for zero extinctions.”
Island rewilding has shown promising results globally, with conservationists documenting more than a decade of success stories in eradicating invasive species like rats and mice. Hundreds of islands worldwide have seen significant biodiversity recoveries as a result of these efforts. The Flinders Island project stands to add to this growing list of conservation victories, demonstrating that strategic intervention can undo centuries of ecological damage and restore balance to fragile ecosystems.
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