Environment & Conservation
Giving Back to the Land
Established in the late 1990’s, Softfoot is a privately owned family farm originally dedicated to establishing a large forestry project aimed at reducing our carbon footprint and provide a much needed Sea Change for three generations of the Retallick Family. The land was grazed heavily by cattle and there were only a few remnant gum trees left on the property.
Sandy and Gary and the family as a whole have always had a passion for the natural World, native animals and the preservation of the environment.
Gary and Sandy owned a large manufacturing business called Team Poly which was one of the largest plastics manufacturers in Australia. The main products designed and developed by Gary were rotationally moulded rain water and storage tanks and the innovative “Smart Bar’ a frontal protection device for various vehicles. This company had over 180 employees and a fleet of trucks used to transport the products around Australia.
Tree Planting
Gary and Sandy then decided to grow their own forest to offset the carbon emissions from the manufacturing process. Sandy joined the management Board for the ‘Trees For Life’ organisation and managed Team Poly’s sponsorship of Land Care Australia’s Tree planting projects.
In the early 2000s, with the help of their daughter and her partner planted in excess of 60,000 trees on the property and revegetation is on-going. These forests have created much needed habitat for many wild birds, invertebrates and animals.
Why Alpacas?
Alpacas were chosen to graze the land at Softfoot, due to the lower impact on the land. Alpacas are soft-footed animals, they have toes instead of hooves. Hence the name ‘Softfoot’.
They have an efficient digestive system, so they consume less pasture per head than other similar sized farm animals.
Alpacas have a clean breach, so the practice of mulesing is not required.
They have the most beautiful, gentle nature.
Alpacas fibre is World renowned for being extremely soft and warm.
We love the fibre so much we process the fleece into soft, fine garments that are then sold on the farm in our Alpaca boutique.
We practice conservation grazing whereby the animals are moved through the landscape on rotation, allowing the land to rest and also restore the soil biota.
Murray Darling Wetlands
Gary worked for many years to make dramatic improvements to the property’s environment. One of these changes was the creation of a wetlands refuge for animals, birds, fish and aquatic life. He did all the earthworks himself turning a small ephemeral creek into acres of wetlands environment. Gary’s design is based around re- creating a Murray-Darling wetland system. The wetland was seeded with plant and animal life that would be found in this environment from the smallest zooplankton to large fish species such as the Murray Cod. The wetlands was also revegetated with a variety of plant species including tea-trees, she-oaks, banksias, River Red Gums and reeds.
Softfoot Sanctuaries.
A Genetic Ark for endangered Australian Marsupials.
Designed and built by Gary with high quality materials to last for over 100 years. The sanctuaries were established to provide a well resourced facility that can benefit the long term conservation of endangered Australian fauna. The aim has never been the ownership of animals. Rather being care-takers for a future where species can eventually be re-wilded in feral free areas, or part of breeding programs with other sanctuaries.
Sanctuary Facilities
Billabong Sanctuary: A grassland environment with a chain of billabongs and a small wood of eucalypts. 18 acres with solar powered electrified remotely monitored fence.
Running Creek Sanctuary: A hilly woodland with towering gums and a solar powered running creek down the centre. This sanctuary not only houses a variety of marsupials but also a breeding facility for the endangered Yarra pygmy perch. 38 Acres fully feral proof fence with heavy duty mechanical barrier
The Woodland Sanctuary: The newest and largest of the sanctuaries built around a large forest of Eucalypts. This is home to our rescue kangaroos and possums and more species of native marsupials. 52 acres feral proof fencing with a ‘floppy top’ barrier.
Little Gum Sanctuary: The smallest of the sanctuaries at only 2 acres. Built to manage the breeding and gene flow of the species for the other sanctuaries. This is also fully feral proof fenced and electrified.
We hope to see you soon.