MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED 8 DECEMBER 2025
Gippsland Family Donates 105ha Property for Permanent Conservation, Creating a Template for Landholders Across Australia
Maffra West Upper, Gippsland — A pioneering act of generosity by a local Gippsland family is helping shape the future of private land conservation in Australia.
The Phillipson family of Maffra West Upper has formally donated their 105-hectare property, North Paddock, to not-for-profit organisation BioDiversity Legacy for lasting protection and ecological stewardship.
This significant contribution – the first of three planned property donations from the family – establishes a powerful model for other landowners considering succession planning and long-term conservation outcomes for their land.
Ecological Significance
Located on Gunaikurnai Country, North Paddock comprises Lowland Forest, Herb-rich Forest (depleted) and Swamp Scrub (endangered) communities. It supports a variety of threatened plant species and forms a crucial ecological link between the Coongalla Bushland Reserve, the Avon–Mount Hedrick Scenic Reserve and the Victorian Alps.
A New Model for Succession Planning
The Phillipson family — Jim, Heather, David and Kate — began their conservation journey by restoring an adjacent property on the Macalister River, securing further parcels of land for nature, and establishing the EcoGipps venture to share conservation knowledge with the local community.
While this work produced meaningful outcomes, the family grappled with the question of what would happen to the land when they could no longer care for it. BioDiversity Legacy provided the answer, offering a secure not-for-profit ownership structure that ensures properties are protected and kept in community stewardship – not sold, subdivided or repurposed.
BioDiversity Legacy will partner with EcoGipps on the long-term management of North Paddock, as well as a further 253 hectares of adjoining conservation land to be donated in the years ahead.
A Gift Designed to Last
“Landholders across Australia are increasingly seeking ways to ensure their restoration work endures. The Phillipsons’ partnership with BioDiversity Legacy demonstrates a clear pathway: enduring protection, trusted stewardship and opportunities for community involvement in caring for nature,” says BioDiversity Legacy’s Head of Science & Environment, Abi Wills.
“This gift demonstrates what’s possible when landholders want to protect their land beyond their lifetimes and offers a replicable, practical template for other landholders thinking about succession and long-term stewardship.
“This is what intergenerational conservation leadership looks like – it’s generous, forward-thinking and deeply rooted in place. We hope others will be inspired to follow.”