Located in a region known for its abundant wildlife, Hells Hole Creek is being restored after extensive clearing for pine plantations. By growing this native forest on Taungurong Country in Victoria, Greenfleet is delivering benefits for both wildlife and the environment.
We planted 11 locally native species including eucalypts to form the all-important canopy. Once fully grown, Hells Hole Creek will extend habitat for the fauna living at nearby Bonnie Doon and around Lake Eildon, while delivering climate action by removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Location & Map
Hells Hole Creek consists of a sloping terrain. With little to no remnant vegetation, its restoration is vital to support the region’s biodiversity and wildlife. The property neighbours Eildon, Lake Eildon and Bonnie Doon, known for abundant wildlife.
The name Hells Hole Creek was given by the goldminers who worked the surrounding creek beds for gold in the 1850’s. The area is now called Tallangallook Creek, however the name for Hells Hole Creek remains.
This is one of many native reforestation projects that Greenfleet has undertaken in Victoria since 1997.
Selecting Species To Restore Biodiversity
The landholders have been working to restore parts of the property back to native forest. They have now partnered with Greenfleet to complete the planting, which will cover approximately a third of the site.
To attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, Greenfleet has planted flowering species including prickly Moses (Acacia verticillata) and blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon). Prickly currant bush (Coprosma quadrifida) has also been planted to provide edible bright red berries as an important food source for birds and other wildlife.
As the canopy, midstorey and understory develop, they will create a home for birds who bring additional seeds into the forest. This framework then encourages more species to grow, such as grassland and wildflowers.
Greenfleet places a legal protection for up to 100 years on our forests to ensure they can grow to maturity and provide benefits for wildlife and the environment. This includes allowing trees time to develop hollows for fauna to inhabit, and for mature forests to hold more carbon in their soils.
Creating Wildlife Habitat For The Future
Historic records from the region show that gang-gang cockatoos, growling grass frogs and pygmy possums once inhabited the region. By returning native species to create habitat, there will be potential breeding and food trees for these and other native wildlife to return.
Endangered brush-tailed phascogales and greater gliders have been sighted in nearby regions, and they may find refuge in the forest as it develops. The area is also well known for much-loved Australian fauna such as the bare-nosed wombat and the echidna. Both have already been spotted on the site and can explore the extended habitat in the forest as it develops.
Climate Action
The forest growing at Hells Hole Creek is legally protected for 100 years. Over that time, it will remove over 9,200 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, which is the equivalent of what almost 2,140 average vehicles emit on Australia’s roads in a single year.
Greenfleet uses the Full Carbon Accounting Model (FullCAM) to measure the carbon uptake at each of our revegetation sites. Designed by the CSIRO, this model helps us understand how much carbon will be sequestered over the protection period. Our carbon estate is also assured by a government accredited carbon auditor.
Location Size
14 hectares near Bonnie Doon, Victoria
Planting Dates
2025
Species
- Silver wattle (Acacia dealbata)
- Spreading wattle (Acacia genistifolia)
- Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon)
- Prickly Moses (Acacia verticillata)
- Prickly currant bush (Coprosma quadrifida)
- Broad-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus dives)
- Bundy (Eucalyptus goniocalyx)
- Eurabbie (Eucalyptus globulus ssp. bicostata)
- Red stringybark (Eucalyptus macrorhyncha)
- Messmate stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua)
- Narrow-leaved peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata)