News & Updates
1
Mar
2025
Update on Progress at Neds Corner
Overview
Neds Corner is a 30,000 hectare property on the south bank of the Murray River about 100km west of Mildura. Neds was first taken up by squatters in 1847 and was used as a sheep and cattle property until 2002. For a period of time it was owned by the iconic Kidman Pastoral Company. A beautifully illustrated history has been written by Catherine King, Ned’s Corner on the Murray: a History.
In 2002 Neds was purchased at public auction by the Trust for Nature (TfN). For the next 20 years the TfN pursued projects to help the environment recover from the damage caused by 150 years of pastoral grazing. Very significant progress was made in suppressing introduced feral pests—rabbits and foxes—and the land moved into a recovery trajectory.
In 2022 the Trust for Nature decided to hand back Neds to its Traditional Owners,the Ngintait people, through the management of the First People of the Millewa Mallee Aboriginal Corporation. This was the largest return of land to Indigenous owners that has occurred in Victoria. The handover process was scheduled to take two years during which time plans for the future management of the property and a possible government funded Safe Havens project were finalised.
The Safe Havens project has not yet eventuated and the handover is not currently completed.
The Involvement of the Jesse-Chaplin Burch Trust
The Trust became involved with Neds in early 2021—initially with a view to funding a standalone restoration project on part of the property. A visit was conducted and some possible ideas considered.
With the decision to hand back the land the Trust’s involvement was refocused on assisting with the planning for the future management of the land. Through the TfN, the Trust funded the Final Report on Ecological Monitoring Program 2022 (below). This was the essential platform on which planning for the future management of the property was based. It detailed the environmental assets that already existed and required protection.
In April 2023 the Trust (John Burch) was a participant in a two day workshop convened by government in Mildura. The workshop was attended by highly qualified people in a range of disciplines to provide advice on the goals and strategies that should be incorporated into the future management plan.
The Trust expressed its willingness to consider proposals for it to be involved in the implementation of future restoration projects on Neds Corner. With the management plan not finalised this has not eventuated.
Neds is a relatively unique and significant opportunity for the restoration of lost Mallee environments/ecologies and the Trust remains open to considering future proposals.
Research Papers
Final Report on Ecological Monitoring Program
2022