Man Protects 134 Hectares of Land on Bruny Island

By Ashleigh Barraclough

Topic: Conservation

Sunday, 26 July 2026, 8:26 am

Sunday, 26 July 2026, 11:43 am

Paul Davis's property is on Bruny Island.

In short:

Paul Davis wants to protect his 134-hectare property, Fairyland, on Bruny Island.

He is working with experts and volunteers to help him.

What's next?

Mr Davis wants to share his work with other landowners.

Paul Davis is doing a cultural burn on his property.

He is guided by Jason Smith, a cultural fire practitioner.

Jason Smith says, 'When native plants turn brown, they need fire.'

Fire helps manage the landscape at Fairyland.

A cultural burn is happening on a private property on Bruny Island.

The property was named Fairyland because of the little penguins that live there.

Paul Davis and his family found Fairyland in 2002 and bought it.

Mr Davis says, 'We couldn't resist, it was a remarkable place.'

Paul Davis is working to protect the natural values of Fairyland.

Mr Davis has brought together a diverse group of people to help him.

He says, 'Good conservation is compatible with minimizing wildfire risk.'

Fairyland is home to shearwater and little penguin rookeries.

Fairyland is an 'island ark' for threatened species.

The property is on an isthmus with ocean on both sides.

It has wetlands, bushland, and a shearwater rookery.

Paul Davis's dog, Billie, likes going around the property.

Ecologist Matt Taylor says Fairyland is a biodiversity hotspot.

Matt Taylor has worked at Fairyland for 10 years.

He says, 'We've been lucky to work with many collaborators on the property.'

Matt Taylor is one of the experts working at Fairyland.

Bruny Island is a priority place for protection under the Threatened Species Action Plan.

Endangered animals like the swift parrot and eastern quoll live at Fairyland.

Paul Davis and Dr Taylor have planted trees to restore bird habitat.

Paul Davis has planted blue gum and white gum trees on the property.

Dr Taylor has set up wildlife cameras and acoustic recorders.

The cameras and recorders help monitor native and feral species.

Dr Taylor says, 'Environmental management is not just about protecting native species.'

Paul Davis bought the 134-hectare property in 2002.

There are funding challenges for private conservation.

Much of the conservation work at Fairyland was paid for by Mr Davis.

There are ecologically important wetlands at Fairyland.

Scientists have come to Fairyland to conduct studies.

Dr Taylor is piloting a biodiversity credit framework for small landholders.

Biodiversity credits help fund projects that improve ecological outcomes.

Mr Davis has secured government funding for fire management.

Fairyland is important for preventing bushfires.

Cultural burns help heal the country and reduce fire risk.

Large-scale prescribed burns can increase bushfire risk.

Jason Smith does cultural burns with a single ignition source.

This gives animals a chance to escape the fire.

Jason Smith says, 'All the burns we've done have given animals a chance to get away.'

Fire is important for managing the landscape.

Small cultural burns leave healthy ash behind.

Jason Smith says, 'We want to see black ash, not white ash.'

Cultural burning is Fairyland's long-term fire management strategy.

Mr Davis says, 'We had to figure out how to create the right conditions for cultural burns.'

Cool burns will be the long-term solution, but they require the right conditions.

Heavy machinery is used to remove mid-storey growth.

In a few years, the property will be ready for a cool burn.

Machinery helps remove mid-storey vegetation.

Dr Taylor is helping share knowledge of fire management between Fairyland and traditional owner groups.

He wants to bring traditional owners to Fairyland to share knowledge.

For Mr Davis, sharing knowledge is part of Fairyland's ethos.

Mr Davis says, 'We'd like to share what we've learned with others.'

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