A box-gum tree with shrubs and small trees in a woodland environment with the sun rising behind them and grass covered in frost.

Mulligans Flat–Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment
The Mulligans Flat–Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), is a long-term ecological experiment that has been running since 2005.

An outdoor laboratory

The Mulligans Flat–Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment, located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), is a long-term ecological experiment that has been running since 2005.

Such experiments are needed to inform decision-making. In Australia, there were few experiments running >25 years, and none had replicated plots from different experimental treatments.

The Experiment is a collaboration that began between land managers and research scientists, but has grown to include science communicators, entrepreneurs, and the community.

Our aims

We aim to create a guide for rebuilding a ‘whole ecosystem’ for biodiversity.

By quantifying the effects of restoration treatments, we contribute to the pool of knowledge that is crucial for protecting, maintaining, and improving nature for generations to come.

A whole ecosystem approach

There is a critical need for long-term experiments in ecological restoration, especially for highly modified or endangered ecosystem types.

Team Members

Partners and collaborators

We would like to thank the following people, and many more, for their substantial contributions to the Experiment:

Chris Davey
Sue McIntyre
Samuel Banks
Claire Wimpenny
David Shorthouse
Ross Cunningham
Darren le Roux