The Bribie Island Butterfly House is in sleepy Bongaree, a suburb on the west side of the Island in Queensland’s Moreton Bay. On a sunny day you can expect to see 50,000 to 100,000 butterfly takeoffs and landings.
This fast-growing tourist attraction is the brainchild and passion of Ray and Delphine Archer. It’s run 100 per cent by volunteers and all profits — currently around $10,000 a month — go to charity.
Its objectives are not just about butterfly conservation and education but humanitarian reasons as well, creating a sense of community among local volunteers proud to be part of this wonderful venture. And visitors are responding, with 4000 through the doors in the month before we called in.
ALL ABOUT THE ARCHERS
The Archers sold their successful Olives Australia farming enterprise in the Lockyer Valley in 2012 and headed off to settle on Bribie Island, a favourite holiday location.
Once there, says Ray, they thought they’d “better do something to keep us a little occupied in our retirement”. Married for 51 of their 71 years, Ray and Delphine set about learning all there was to know about the breeding and rearing of butterflies and what they required in the way of host and nectar providing plants.
The project soon outgrew its initial backyard setup but the local council was so impressed with the volunteer-driven project it offered the Archers an 800m2 block of land with a 100-year lease to properly set up a butterfly house and laboratory.
Ray sent out 1000-plus flyers to get community involvement in developing the new location. The response was phenomenal: 160 people, including painters, builders, electricians, gardeners and community folk, all wanting to help.
“It was fantastic,” says Ray, adding that some days were chaotic but it was nonetheless heartening to find so many keen to lend a hand.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!