Victoria (then the Victorian Conservation Trust), the Ross Trust, Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, and donations from local conservation and naturalist groups and the public bought 130ha of land at Orford from Mr. W. Pallister.

In 1992, a further 124ha was bought from the Hocking family on the western boundary to add to the reserve. The 254ha reserve includes 130ha of native woodland containing Swamp and Manna Gum and Shining Peppermint, Blackwood, with an understorey of Prickly Tea Tree, Wattles, Banksia, Allocasuarina and Sweet Bursaria.

We have converted an old woolshed as our basic but useful headquarters. There are several rooms of beds and mattresses for volunteers who might require overnight or weekly accommodation and a kitchen/living room which has by hard work and donations been made into a liveable area. Most of the equipment has been given or been bought by donations. A shipping container (converted into a tool shed by New Work Opportunities participants) donated by Portland Aluminium has been of excellent value and has a composting toilet and shower attached. A small solar hot water system has also been added.