The low-lying swamp areas on the property are home to the north coast burrowing crayfish, Engaeus granulatus, an endangered species. These small crayfish have adapted to living in tunnel systems below the swamps by having narrow bodies and claws that open vertically rather than horizontally.

E. granulatus spend nearly all their lives underground, there is still lots to discover about them. By walking transects (view in Google Earth) across the four swamps that we burnt in 2007, we have estimated that there are about 9,000 E granulatus holes, so we have a bumper crayfish population to treasure – and not to eat!

A copperhead snake briefly interrupted our work in early May. It soon showed itself to be well-behaved and we monitored its movements as we worked around it. It is one of the biggest snakes we have seen in Tasmania. We hope that the warmth of the house isn't too attractive before the doors go on.

An Eastern Pobblebonk Frog, Lymnodynastes dumerilii, was resting under some tea tree mulch in early July. We had to move the mulch to landscape around the house and it was rudely disturbed, washed and scrubbed up for a picture, before returning to its preferred habitat. This frog makes a wonderful ringing "plonk" call that is very distinctive, and is sometimes called the Banjo Frog.

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One of three species of stick insect in Tasmania paid us a visit soon after we moved in. Its a large wingless female and must have walked a fair way to our courtyard door. The next night it disappeared. We believe the species is Ctenomorpha chronus. The detail of its eye is very striking.