Queensland national park network to expand following Vergemont Station purchase

With the help of an anonymous donation of $21 million brokered by The Nature Conservancy, the Queensland Government has purchased a 350,000 hectare former outback cattle station in order to make it a protected area.

Described as "one of the largest and most environmentally significant" acquisitions in recent history, the property will attach to existing national parks and recent purchases, which will create a 1.5 million hectare protected area corridor.

The sale of Vergemont Station, a 352,589-hectare property near Longreach, was purchased in a philanthropic partnership with The Nature Conservancy which brokered the anonymous multi-million donation for the sale.

This latest property sale follows the acquisition of Tonkoro and Melrose stations in January to expand existing national parks and protected areas.

With the Queensland Government having made a 2023 funding commitment of $262.5 million to expand and better manage protected areas, the addition of the three properties adds 555,589 hectares to Queensland's national parks, reserves and protected areas - an area larger than the ACT.

Melrose Station, south-east of Winton, will be added to the Bladensburg National Park, which will see the park almost double in size to around 150,000 hectares.

Vergemont Station sits at the headwaters of the Lake Eyre Basin, one of Queensland's most important inland river catchments and one of the last free-flowing river systems in the world.

The conservation corridor is a key habitat for endangered and vulnerable species like the night parrot and the yellow-footed rock-wallaby, according to Environment Minister Leanne Linard.

The donation brokered by The Nature Conservancy is believed to be the single largest donation for land protection in Australia, according to Dr James Fitzsimons, a senior advisor at the conservation group.

Fitzsimons commented “it highlights the power of leveraged gifts, enabling philanthropists and governments alike to achieve outcomes far beyond what is possible alone.

"This model will be essential if Australia is to achieve its target of protecting 30% of lands and 30% of oceans by 2030."

Commenting on the acquisition, Queensland Environment Minister, Leanne Linard stated “dedication of Vergemont Station, and the recently acquired Tonkoro and Melrose Stations, as national park, will also generate a range of economic activity in the local region.

“This includes enhanced tourism opportunities, the employment of locally-based rangers and the construction of new infrastructure and land management activities such as pest and fire management actions which will be sourced from local contractors where suitable.”

Vergemont Station is located just south-east of the historical mining town Opalton, and while it is primarily a cattle station, it is also home to many opal miners who have mining leases on the pastoral land.

Reports indicate that holders of these mining leases fear they will be ended once the property transitions to a national park.

Images: Vergemont Station has been purchased by the Queensland Government with the help of donors. Credit: Queensland Government.