Tona is a 2,000 hectare property (5,000
acres) located in South-Western New South Wales, Australia. We are
positioned on 30 spectacular kilometres of frontage to the Great
Darling Anabranch River and is home to 96 species
of bird.
The property offers guided tours by
prior arrangement. More details on the tours
page.
Thursday, June 5th, 2008. When
It Rains, It Pours.
At the time of writing Tona is experiencing
a much needed deluge thanks to the tail end of a rain band that
is currently stretching across New South Wales. Let's hope it pours!
Phase One of our seed orchard is now
operational, with over 1000 plants now established with weed matting
and dripper irrigation.
Four species of Saltbush represent
the majority of the orchard and it is hoped that further extensions
will correspond with increased demand from other re-vegetation projects.
Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008. Reaching
for the Sky.
Tona is honoured to announce that it
will host members of the Sunraysia Koori Re-engagement Program.
Two groups of Indigenous students,
from Mildura and Robinvale will share in the rich cultural heritage
of the property at a hands-on level.
The students will be mentored by local
Elders, focussing on Tona's many sites of cultural significance;
namely it's canoe trees, fire pits and sacred burial site.
The program is in line with the aims
set out in the Wurreker
Strategy, that assists in providing pathways from training to
employment.
On the environmental front, Tona has
received funding to protect 400 hectares of now-threatened Old Man
Saltbush.
The target area encompasses an extensive
riparian zone prolific in Eumong, Black Box, Belah and Lignum. These
plant species provide essential habitat and nesting sites for the
White-browed Babbler and the Chesnut-crowned Babbler, both threatened.
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008.
Of seed banks and rainfall.
Tona has received it's first significant
drenching since January. We are pleased to report that 10mm has
fallen over the weekend.
This coincided brilliantly with the
planting of a native seed bank on the property. More details, and
photos, soon.
Saturday, January 19th, 2008.
An inch of Rain and Hope.
Tona was blessed by over an inch of
rain today that has provided some much needed relief to a dry landscape.
Wednesday, December 19th, 2007.
Bon Voyage.
Russell and Annie today departed Australia
for a much deserved holiday in Africa. They will be sure to soak
up the sights and conservation practices currently utilised in this
amazing part of the world.
Thursday, December 13th, 2007.
Lynall Hall Visits.
This week saw the long anticipated
arrival of teachers and students from Lynall Hall, Richmond. Many
thanks to Mildura skygazers club for their attendance and information
on the stars on the second night.
Tuesday, December 4th, 2007.
Freshwater Research.
Tona was recently aided by members
of the Freshwater Research Station from Mildura. The Station will
carry out aquatic monitoring across the property on a monthly basis.
We are extremely grateful for their contribution.
Wednesday, November 28th, 2007.
Peter Andrews.
Russell today partook in a walk and
talk with environmental campaigner and proponent of natural sequence
farming, Peter
Andrews. An enjoyable day was had on the banks of the Murray
on Moorna Station, via Wentworth.
Sunday, November 18th, 2007.
Tona in 40 degrees.
Well it's finally happened, Tona has
cracked it's first 40 degree day for this summer. At over 100 in
the old scale, the resilient landscape was looking decidedly dry
after the day. Let's hope there isn't too many of these to come!
Friday, November 2nd, 2007.
Lynall Hall comes to visit.
A teacher from Richmond's Lynall Hall
school paid a visit to the property this week and a program for
four teachers and twelve students was devised, mixing environmental
activities with kayaking, swimming and otehr outdoor recreational
pursuits.
Thursday, November 1st, 2007.
Russell's Big Birthday.
Happy Birthday Russell! Let's hope
the year ahead brings you every success.
Thursday, October 11th, 2007.
The Tona Vista.
On driving through Tona's gate this
morning, we were greeted by the sight of five pelicans, numerous
shags four egrets and the majestic sight of twenty two SWANS.
Tuesday, October 9th, 2007.
Special Visitor.
Tona was privileged to have Bob Bennet,
a Cob Builder by trade and a guest guest of Mildura TAFE visit the
property this weekend. Bob was the principle speaker at the Sun
Festival being held at the weekend. Cob building is using clay and
straw to make rammed walls and structures. He is also an expert
on lime mortars in old building construction across the UK. Hopefully
Bob enjoyed Tona as much as we did having him here, an enjoyable
day and very much part of the Tona journey.
Thursday, September 13th, 2007.
Lynall Hall.
Tona was this week contacted by Lynall
Hall school in Richmond. We look forward to the possibility
of ongoing partnerships and participation from this extremely important
institution.
Sunday, September 9th, 2007.
Spring in our Step.
With the warmth of summer not too far
away, Tona's wildlife has again begun to stir. Our resident goanna's
are emerging from their hollows as are their reptilean mates, the
blue-tongued lizards. Not to forget a nesting pair of crows near
the homestead, Tona continues to prove that life carries on in spite
of the drought.
Wednesday, September 5th, 2007.
Out and About with the Scouts.
Tona was privileged to have 50 members
of the local scout troupe on the property recently. Highlights of
their visit was the planting and watering in of 300 native trees
and their kayaking trip down the Anabranch.
Monday, August 27th, 2007.
30 Degress in August.
It's been a real stinker here on Tona
today, with temperatures peaking just above 30 degrees."We're
certainly headed for a hot summer, wind, dust and heat don't make
for much of a combination", said Tona owner Russell Elliott.
Thursday, August 9th, 2007.
Tona on the Water Wagon.
With little follow up rain, tree watering
is in full swing on Tona as of this week. With the help of a trailer
and pump setup the job will be a less than arduous one.
Monday, July 30th, 2007. Let
it Rain.
Yes, Tona had more than a centimetre
of rain today, the first decent drop in ages. This will hopefully
be a real saviour for our earlier tree plantings.
Friday, July 27th, 2007. Old
Man Emu.
Tona has been inundated with Emus this
week. A large number of the flightless birds are seeking refuge
on the property most likely in response to the lack of rain further
north. Russell has sighted two groups totalling more than 26 and
a rather proud male bird with six chicks.
Sunday, July 8th, 2007. Cold
Snap.
As the header denotes Tona is currently
in the middle of a cold snap. After only a few fleeting showers
we can only hope that more rain is on the way to replace the moisture
currently being drained from the landscape.
Thursday, May 10th, 2007. Indaba
on its way
Scott plans to represent Tona at The
Indaba Conference. Now for the uninitiated an Indaba is a big
meeting and Scott plans to make some excellent contacts with the
hope of gaining first hand experience of the safari industry.
Tuesday, February 20th,2007.
Late Summer Fishing
February has seen an amazing myriad of spectacular thunderstorms
and lightning, but alas not a drop of rain. One plus however has been a steady increase in the number of fish we're catching, carp numbers
are down but the yellowbelly are on the bite
Wednesday, January 24th, Scott Leaves for Africa
It was with some tears and several beers that we farewelled Scotty for his
sojourn across Africa. While in Africa Scott is completing a Field Guiding Course. He will return with an excellent insight into the safari industry which will be used upon
his return to Tona in 2008.
Friday, November 10th- The
Worst Drought in 1000 Years.
The 2006 drought will probably be remembered
as one the driest on record and Tona has suffered considerably under
its impact. All previous tree plantings have now succumbed to the
dry, but we persevere! Tree
Project is currently producing thousands of native trees for
revegetation of Tona in Autumn.
Tona Online-
Take a look at the following websites
for other online perspectives on Tona.
Ringwood
Field Naturalists Trip
Mildura's
National Centre for Sustainability
Murray
Working Wetlands Group
Friday, July 28th, 2006- Monty
Python Comes to Town
Tona's owner Russell today found a
rare Python right near the Tona homestead. If Monty, who is over
2m long shows up again Tona will consider placing a tracking device
on him to see his range.
Friday, July 1st, 2005- Tona
Station overland tours commence.
Tona Station is now pleased to announce
that you can come and experience all the property has to offer on
a guided tour. These are conducted in our custom fitted Land Rover
4WD and last from 9:45am until 3:00pm. More details on the tours
page.
Thursday, June 30th 2005- The
Grand Lady has arrived!
Yes folks the moment you've all been
waiting for, the arrival of our Grand Lady from Western Australia.
For the uneducated The Grand Lady is a superbly preserved 1972 Land
Rover, purchased from new friends in the West.
She features
a wildlife viewing hatch, seven person seating capacity and a list
of other extras too numerous to name.
She will
be utilised to conduct tours of the property providing a comfortable
taste of Africa right here in Australia. Pictures are available
in the photo's page
Friday June 17th, 2005- First
stage of tree planting completed.
in conjunction with our good friends
at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE's National Centre for Sustainability
we have completed 16 kilometres of direct seeding of native tree
species. From the twenty kilograms of seed planted the mix consisted
of; acacias, mallee eucalypts, daisy bush, sennas, saltbush, hakea,
belah, native pine and sugarwood.
This is an enormous achievement, and
represents the first phase of one of the largest revegetation excercises
ever undertaken in the western division of New South Wales.
Saturday, June 11th, 2005-
Tona kayaking begins.
Today saw the launch of kayaking tours,
allowing guests to retrace a section of the famous explorer Captain
Sturt's voyage.
