Garry and Robyn Ostini’s commitment to conservation
In the heart of the Central West, Garry and Robyn Ostini have spent the past 13 years at Daydawn, carrying forward a family legacy of caring for the land.
Their decision to enter into a conservation agreement through the 2024 Fixed Price Offer (FPO) marks another chapter in their lifelong commitment to stewardship and sustainability.
For Garry, a fourth-generation wool grower, land conservation is more than a passion. It’s a lifelong ambition rooted in the values passed down from his great-grandfather, who first established the family’s wool-growing tradition.
Today, Garry and wife Robyn are working together to ensure the land remains a haven for biodiversity, with a focus on preserving the unique ecological community that still thrives there.
In 2024, the couple were among the successful FPO applicants and entered into an in-perpetuity conservation agreement to protect significant areas of native woodland.
Through their conservation agreement, the Ostinis are taking active steps to protect and restore Southern Tablelands Dry Sclerophyll Forests and Southern Tablelands Grassy Woodlands. Their efforts include excluding livestock from sensitive areas to allow native grasses and understory plants to regenerate, as well as continuing their long-standing practice of planting trees.
“I’ve always been interested in conservation from a very young age,” he said.
“I’ve spent a lifetime growing trees; it’s just been part of what we do. This agreement gives us the support and structure to take it further and to protect what’s here and help it thrive into the future.”
That passion has turned Daydawn into a sanctuary for native flora and fauna, and the focus now is on giving the land the time it needs to regenerate naturally.
Since removing livestock from the conservation area, they’re already seeing the benefits.
“There’s the start of an understory forming, and we’re seeing new species of flora and young gums coming through,” Garry said.
"Our vision is to allow the land’s natural processes to restore balance, supporting biodiversity while protecting the property’s ecological integrity for perpetuity.
Garry and Robyn have wasted no time putting conservation into action. They have approached restoration steadily, balancing the practical realities of farm life with long-term conservation goals.
Their early efforts focused on:
- Removing barbed wire from old internal fences
- Controlling weeds and poisoning invasive pine trees
- Trapping and controlling feral animals such as pigs, deer, foxes, and wild dogs
- Upgrading access tracks to safely monitor and maintain the conservation area.
“We plan to protect and enhance the habitat by letting the ecology return to its natural levels,” Garry said, “That gives threatened animals the chance to thrive again.”
Robyn said they firmly believe private landholders play a crucial role in conserving Australia’s biodiversity.
“Landowners can provide a refuge for the preservation of natural ecology,” she said.
“Because they are so close to the land, they’re often the first to notice changes in the landscape or pest outbreaks that can affect conservation efforts.”
For others considering a conservation agreement, her advice is simple: “Just give it a go, you’ll enjoy seeing the benefits. It’s very rewarding.”
“It’s great to know we’re playing a role in allowing the ecosystem to recover and we are proud to be part of something that ensures our native plants and animals can persist long into the future.”
About the property
- Region: Central West NSW
- Program: Fixed Price Offer
- Conservation focus: Southern Tablelands Dry Sclerophyll Forests and Southern Tablelands Grassy Woodlands
- Conservation actions: Weed and pest control, livestock exclusion, habitat restoration, and long-term biodiversity protection
- Goal: To protect endangered trees, flora, and fauna for perpetuity