Purchased in 1975 the property known as Carawirry Cabins & Wildlife Refuge is located on the upper reaches of Carowiry Creek in the Main Creek area of Dungog Shire. The property was originally part of Gams estate operating Gams Mill adjoining the Chichester & Trevor State Forests.
At purchase, the property consisted of remnant native forest with approximately 20% cleared for grazing bullock teams and later general stock. Gams estate had been selectively logged for over 80 years and although retaining a general forest structure, the property reflects previous harvest regimes.Mainly conducted as a single tree selection process it resulted in stands of sub-dominant, sub-standard trees with areas of inadequate regeneration. Some serious weed infestation was occurring particularly in previous cleared grazing areas. Rainforest areas were particularly affected by logging as regeneration is a most difficult process.
The Lloyd's initial concept, based on personal feelings and the growing National awareness for better conservation, was to develop a nature based approach to land management-still not fully recognized as essential in the "70's". This early awareness has been refined with time & experience and is now expressed as a Strategic Aim. With a specific objective to operate a nature based tourist facility & "To manage the property as an uneven aged native forest to provide maximum native vegetation and habitat values for wildlife."
