Mulloon Institute has been collaborating with Soils for Life on a series of case studies as part of our Communities of Practice Project, supporting landholders and their communities in rehydration projects on their farms, and in their catchments.
The Rehydration on the Monaro case study, featuring Charlie Maslin’s long-term stewardship at his property, Gunningrah, is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when landholders take the lead in restoring their landscapes.
From Mulloon Institute’s perspective, Charlie’s journey demonstrates the principles we champion every day: working with natural systems, using water as the entry point for change, and building long-term resilience from the ground up. His commitment to improving soil function and water retention across a tough, brittle landscape reflects exactly the kind of locally-led, landscape-wide thinking needed in Australian agriculture.
The story of Gunningrah isn’t just about one property – it’s about an approach that’s scalable, repeatable, and deeply relevant to communities facing increasing climate variability. Through trial, observation and persistence, Charlie has created a more hydrated, productive, and biodiverse system without relying on external inputs or silver bullets.
What stands out to us is the way this work weaves together practical knowledge, adaptive management, and deep care for country. The outcomes – richer soils, running creeks, healthier pastures – are exactly what we aim to support through our own programs and partnerships.
We’re proud to promote this Soils for Life case study as a valuable resource and a motivating example for landholders across the country. It echoes what we hear from our own mentoring networks: that change is possible, and the results speak for themselves.
Charlie’s story reinforces that landscape rehydration isn’t a niche practice – it’s a foundation for long-term productivity and ecosystem health. We encourage you to take a look, be inspired, and consider how these principles might apply to your own landscape.
This CoPP project received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
All photography on this page by Grow Love Project, via Soils for Life.
