Conservation group raises $19m to buy Queensland cattle station for protection

The Guardian reported that Bush Heritage aims to purchase Wooroora station in far north Queensland by Christmas after raising more than $19 million in private donations. The 20,000‑hectare cattle property links wet sclerophyll forest and savanna woodland and lies on the lands of the Jirrbal people, about 100 km south‑west of Cairns. It borders Bush Heritage’s 43,575‑hectare Yourka Reserve, creating a larger protected block in one of Australia’s most biodiverse regions. The station is home to 12 endangered species and contains headwaters that flow toward the Great Barrier Reef. Conservationists say the acquisition would preserve largely intact forest and woodland, strengthening the ecological corridor between the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest and adjacent habitats. The fundraising effort relies on private donors and aims to secure the land before the end of the year.

Why it matters

Protecting the tract safeguards endangered species and the water sources that feed the Great Barrier Reef.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

29 Oct 2026, 02:36 IST

Key names

Queensland, Bush Heritage, Wooroora, Great Barrier Reef

Section

Environment

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The Guardian‘Worldwide legacy’: almost $20m raised to protect majestic tract of land in far north Queensland 29 Oct, 02:36

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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