Local bushwalkers from the Ben Cruachan Walking Club recently had the opportunity to not only enjoy a beautiful day out in the bush, but to hear firsthand about the Phillipson’s personal journey to restore and rejuvenate the land. Words by BCWC member, Sue Wessen.
This walk was unusual for the Club in that the focus was on the Phillipson’s project to regenerate a beef cattle farm and neglected bush block for future generations of plants, creatures and people. Although I was the nominal walk leader, Heather Phillipson was our walk guide and encyclopedia. Jim and Heather’s company, EcoGipps, collaborates with a range of environmental organisations including Wildlife Unlimited, Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, Biodiversity Legacy, Ecologic NRM, Rendere Environmental Trust, Land Covenantors Victoria, Prom Coast Ecolink, and Ecolands Collective. Through purchasing private property, including their house block, they have been able to establish a “biolink” corridor from the Macalister River into the Avon Wilderness. They have established a legal framework that ensures the land can never be sold for other purposes, which ensures its protection for the future.
Our walk meandered through the house block and into bushland, which is known as the “North Paddock” where Heather was able to show us remnant rainforest, including Muttonwoods that are establishing themselves and point out work they have done thinning regrowth to encourage a diverse understory of other plants. School groups and others, including WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) volunteer their time to assist with keeping the tracks in a usable condition. Our group expressed a strong desire to come back and give their time in this way. I will be organising a working bee for Autumn 2026.
We had lunch at the campground in the middle of the block which is a grassed area surrounded by bush. While walking the bush tracks, which are recovering from firewood extraction by the local community, random bulldozed tracks and rubbish dumping, we felt that we could have been a long way from any road, let alone the bitumen. Heather even provided us with home made gluten free biscuits! On the way back to the house paddock, she showed us the plantings of rare and endangered endemic plants that are being established at two sites, one an old cattle yard. Heather’s passion and knowledge is a privilege to witness.
In April 2025, a group of Sustainable Landscapes students from the University of Melbourne were welcomed to EcoGipps.
This visit was part of the master’s student’s weekend adventure to Gippsland – a two-day tour to understand different land management practices across the Gippsland region.
Led by Dr Andrea Rawluk from the University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences with the support of Biodiversity Legacy Projects Officer, Jyoti Kala, students visited multiple properties and were immersed in conversations about regenerative agricultural practices, the Commons and community environmental campaigns. Over the weekend, the students also spoke closely with landowners who are working hard to find solutions for a complex variety of land management challenges.
The weekend tour included visits to:
Tarwin River Forest, a covenanted rainforest in South Gippsland, where forest stewards Stuart and Victoria took the students on a walk to a rainforest gully, where they saw critically endangered Slender Tree-ferns. They shared stories about their rainforest work, looking after the covenanted property and protecting Gippsland’s forests via Gippsland Forest Guardians.
The students also visited:
EcoGipps, where they learned about the broad vision, the four properties that make up the EcoGipps venture regeneration activities, tree planting and weed management.
NeavesMirams Agriculture, Regenerative Dairy Farm, Newry – where leaders Kate and Pete shared their journey to regenerative agriculture practices. The students learned about farm impacts on pasture production, milk production and productivity. They also enjoyed a walk to look at multispecies pastures, trees and birds.
Woodcote Farm, Holistic Agriculture, Perry Bridge, where leaders Ruth and David shared their wisdom about agricultural practices in balance with nature – recognising natural systems, grasses, underground livestock and above-ground livestock. They highlighted their philosophy of ‘do no harm’ – how caring for the cattle, combined with mosaic-style grazing, supports both wildlife and soil health.
We would like to acknowledge Dr Rawluk for organising the trip and for all her excellent work teaching and inspiring the students.
Something exciting is happening at the community-managed wetlands situated in the Gippsland town of Heyfield.
A small section of the Wetlands is now home to the Seeding Succession project. Started by Maffra & District Landcare Network, the project aims to showcase local plant species found in the Gippsland Grassy Plains bioregion and ensure that expert knowledge is shared amongst the wider community.
EcoGipps has partnered with the Heyfield Wetlands, Avon Landcare and community volunteers to continue this project. The second phase of the project began with the establishment of a range of plants within a small, fenced area.
“These plants will easily get lost amongst the shrubs and grasses commonly found within the open areas of the wetlands, so the fenced area provides them with a buffer to get established,” explains wetlands committee member, Mike Kube.
The diverse range of plants, grown by Woolenook Nursery and local plant expert, Martin Swanson, have been chosen for their ornamental value to encourage locals to plant them in their own gardens.
Some of the species include the Vanilla Lily (Arthropodium minus), Matted Bush-pea (Pultenaea pedunculata), Yellow Buttons (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), Kangaroo Grass (Themeda Triandra) and the Yam Daisy or Murnong (Microseris lanceolata), which was an important food source for the Gunaikurnai people.
As the plants grow, cutting material and seeds will be collected for propagation, with new plants being shared among other community groups, including Landcare and the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail. The space will also be used for propagation workshops and plant ID activities to educate the community on the Grassy Plains bioregion and share knowledge of local plant experts among the wider community.
