An Australian couple who bought a former cattle property in New South Wales are working to bring back the forest that once covered the land, planting more than 34,000 trees and restoring habitat for koalas and other wildlife. Brett and Lisa Vercoe purchased their 30-hectare property, Narlu, near Upper Orara, inland from Coffs Harbour, in 2020. Much of the land had previously been cleared and used for cattle, although it once contained Lowland Subtropical Rainforest as well as wet and dry sclerophyll forest. With support from North Coast Local Land Services, the couple have restored about 17.5 hectares of forest. Their work forms part of a wider effort to restore and reconnect koala habitat across the NSW North Coast, turning a former agricultural landscape into a growing native ecosystem.
Brett and Lisa Vercoe purchased Narlu in 2020 after deciding to make a major change in their lives and focus on restoring the property's natural environment. The 30-hectare site is at Upper Orara, about 20 minutes inland from Coffs Harbour, in Gumbaynggirr Country. The property had been cleared for agriculture and used for cattle, leaving much of the original vegetation fragmented or absent. The couple wanted to restore the landscape rather than continue with conventional agricultural use. The area historically contained Lowland Subtropical Rainforest, an endangered ecological community, along with wet and dry sclerophyll forest. Their restoration work is therefore aimed at bringing back native vegetation that once formed an important part of the local landscape and provided habitat for koalas and other species.
The Vercoes have planted more than 34,000 trees as part of the restoration, with support from North Coast Local Land Services. About 17.5 hectares of forest is being restored on Narlu, with species selected according to the different forest communities they are trying to recreate. Some trees have also been grown by Brett and Lisa themselves before being planted on the property. The restoration is particularly focused on rebuilding and reconnecting koala habitat. The couple have planted native species that can provide food and shelter while also creating corridors between existing areas of bushland. Their work is part of the Australian Government's Saving Koalas Fund and a broader programme involving private landholders across the NSW North Coast. The goal is not simply to increase tree numbers but to reconnect fragmented habitat and create conditions in which native wildlife can move through and use the landscape.
Tree planting is only one part of the restoration at Narlu. The Vercoes have also worked with Yurruungga Aboriginal Corporation and First Nations practitioners on cultural burning to help manage the land. A low-intensity cultural burn was carried out as part of the wider koala habitat restoration project, with the aim of reducing introduced pasture grasses and creating better conditions for native plants to regenerate. Government agencies say the approach combines First Nations ecological knowledge with contemporary restoration practices. The burn was intended to avoid the high intensity associated with destructive bushfires while helping manage vegetation and encourage native regeneration. The project also demonstrates how restoration can involve active management rather than simply leaving former agricultural land untouched and waiting for nature to recover on its own.
The restoration has already been accompanied by sightings of a variety of native animals. Government reporting lists wildlife including platypuses, giant barred frogs, eastern freshwater cod, turtles and several bird species on the property. The giant barred frog and eastern freshwater cod are threatened species, making their presence particularly notable. The return of wildlife is significant because the project's objective extends beyond planting trees. Restored forests can provide food, shelter and movement corridors, while healthier vegetation around waterways can improve conditions for aquatic species. The couple have also had to contend with difficult conditions during the restoration, including extreme heat and repeated flooding, which can threaten young trees and make it harder to establish vegetation. These challenges mean that restoring the landscape requires continuing management and care rather than simply planting trees and leaving them to grow.
The Vercoes do not expect to see the finished forest themselves. Brett has said that even his grandchildren may not see the project reach its full potential, while some of the trees planted at Narlu could live for hundreds of years. The long timeline is part of what makes the project significant. The aim is to restore a functioning ecosystem rather than create a short-term plantation, with native vegetation gradually becoming established and wildlife benefiting as the habitat develops. Narlu is also part of a wider restoration effort involving private landholders across the NSW North Coast, where government programmes are helping protect and reconnect koala habitat. For Brett and Lisa, the project represents a long-term commitment to changing a former cattle property into a landscape where rainforest, native vegetation and wildlife can return and continue developing for generations.
