Our Story

Jon & Peta Nott discovered the property now known as Rose Gums in February 1994. Jon, a professional builder, sought a location to construct their dream home and fulfill their vision of creating a small eco retreat. Bordering the World Heritage-listed Wooroonooran National Park on two sides, at the end of a no-through-road, and just 15 minutes from the villages of Malanda and Yungaburra, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat became a reality. It opened for business in 1998 with our first treehouse. Since then, Jon has built a total of 12 treehouses.

After World War One, the property was extensively cleared for farming. However, due to its topography, it was not suitable for dairy herds and primarily used for 'dry' cows. Over the years, natural forest regeneration occurred in many areas, except for the 'top' 70 acres of basalt country.

However, the property was heavily infested with weeds such as lantana, tobacco bush, and glycine in the cleared areas. Jon & Peta faced a daunting task of clearing nearly 30% of the property to eradicate these weeds and reforest with native species. From 1995 to 1998, in collaboration with the Community Rainforest Reforestation Program (CRRP), they planted over 20,000 mixed native tree species.

Despite this effort, weed control, especially of grass and glycine, required their attention every weekend for the next 5 years. This ongoing effort was crucial to allow the young trees to mature and develop a canopy capable of competing with the weeds. Since then, Peta and Jon themselves have planted an additional 5,000 trees.

The warm, high rainfall climate has allowed the newly planted trees to thrive, resulting in the establishment of a vibrant forest that now serves as habitat for numerous bird and animal species. Research scientists have monitored the growth of these trees and observed the rejuvenation of the forest with our unique Australian wildlife. Particularly rewarding has been the return of the Southern Cassowary.

In 2007, Rose Gums was officially declared a Nature Refuge by the Queensland State Government.

Jon & Peta are delighted to share their vision with their guests who come from all over the world to marvel at this little piece of paradise hidden in the highland rainforests of tropical north Queensland.