The world’s first wild koala breeding facility is open for business and a key anchor in Guulabaa—or Place of the Koala in the Gathang language of the Biripi people—which has now opened in the Cowarra State Forest – a working production forest near the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital.
Operated by Koala Conservation Australia (KCA), the facility was developed in partnership with the Taronga Conservation Society, using donations raised after the 2019/20 Black Summer Fires:
“We aim to breed wild koalas from carefully selected and screened healthy “founder” animals in natural breeding yards with top-level biosecurity, clinical, and research facilities.”
Koala Conservation Australia (KCA) on the importance of wild koala breeding.
This morning, NSW Minister Tara Moriarty and Uncle Bill of Birpai LALC (who performed the Welcome to Country) opened the new Koala Visitor Experience Centre, the final piece in the eco-tourism puzzle which includes the WildNets Adventure Park, the Bunyah Aboriginal Land Council cafe and gallery, and the Big Koala, which is a highlight of the award-winning Hello Koalas Sculpture Trail.
Located deep inside the NSW State Forest, managed by Forestry Corporation of NSW, Leslie Williams, the local NSW member for Port Macquarie earlier this year said: “Guulabaa… will be a wonderful visitor attraction for the Mid North Coast region that will deliver significant outcomes in terms of koala conservation, sustainable forest management, tourism, the arts, the sharing of Biripi culture, and new timber product development.”
Launched in late 2020, Guulabaa broke ground in early 2023 with the support of funds from the Australian and NSW Governments. Contributions also came from local hardwood timber businesses, including Ironwood, Coffs Harbour Hardwoods, Hurford Hardwood, Pentarch Forestry, Machins Sawmilling, Hayden Timbers, Weathertex, and Big River Group.
This afternoon, Wood Central spoke to Maree McCaskill, the CEO of Timber NSW – which represents the local hardwood supply chain – who welcomed the launch of Guulabaa. “Besides being a world-first tourism experience, the new “Hub” also has a multi-purpose learning space, an outdoor picnic area, and, importantly, will connect tourists with the most beautiful NSW North Coast hardwood timbers.”
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- To learn more about Guulabaa, click here for more information on the Forestry Corporation of NSW’s website.
