Australian Billionaire Invests in Wildlife Sanctuary, Protecting 17,000 Acres
May 27, 2026
An extraordinary initiative has been launched by an Australian billionaire and his wife aimed at transforming expansive tracts of former cattle and logging land into a dedicated wildlife sanctuary. This new safe haven will benefit koalas, gliders, and other at-risk species in one of Australia’s picturesque mountain regions.
Mike Gregg / The Great Dividing Range
Mike Gregg, a technology investor, along with his wife Sue, have contributed $10 million to secure six properties within the Great Dividing Range. This area spans dense forests, verdant gorges, rivers, and grassy woodlands.
The newly acquired land, covering roughly 7,000 hectares near Port Macquarie in New South Wales, will transition from agricultural use to a focus on conservation.
This ambitious project was made possible through the Great Southern Land Conservancy, a nonprofit organization initiated by the couple last year.
“We found ourselves in the very fortunate position to do some good,” said Sue Gregg in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. “We love nature and wildlife. So, we thought, preserving and restoring land was the best thing we could do with our money.”
The sanctuary will be a refuge for a diverse range of wildlife, such as koalas, greater gliders, spotted-tail quolls, glossy black cockatoos, frogs, wallabies, and turtles. Conservation efforts will focus on rehabilitating damaged areas and safeguarding the habitat from invasive species and environmental threats.
Prior to the purchase, some land sections had been logged recently, with logging operations still ongoing during the final inspection stages, highlighting the urgent need for conservation.
Gregg, notable for his early investment in WiseTech Global, emphasized the importance of using their wealth for meaningful endeavors rather than indulgent acquisitions.
“We’ve got to think about how we’re going to do something with this, and it’s not buying a big yacht,” he remarked.
Conservation experts in Australia recognize this donation as one of the largest private contributions towards land conservation in New South Wales.
