Open collaboration space for changemakers
Firestone Sanctuary is a 77 hectare property and intended ecovillage in Laceys Creek, Queensland, Australia. It will be a sanctuary for native biodiversity, a beautiful retreat for healing, an eco-centre to educate the public, an intentional living community for passionate environmentalists, and a template for the creation of other similar communities.
Philosophy
The focus is on proving a more ethical and egalitarian socioeconomic model. It aims to bring mutualism and sustainable innovation to the production of goods and services, rather than being a lifestyle retreat or escape from society. It aims to build a model for society that intrinsically values life, human connectivity, authentic relations, responsibility and freedom: a society where people are fulfilled in their work and driven to improve because they are aware of their own self-worth.
Community
Firestone Sanctuary has an extended community network that spreads across Brisbane and Australia with connections to other activist, artist and environmental interest groups. This community has an open collaboration model that aims to extend the positive impact of the project beyond the immediate property boundaries.
Mission
The mission of Firestone Sanctuary is to:
- be a space for open collaboration on projects that are kind to society and natural biodiversity;
- promote living and creating in a way that is authentic, sustainable and evidence-based;
- provide tools and resources so that positive changemakers can innovate with increased efficiency;
- help changemakers through the journey of turning their ideas into new purpose-first, non-profit organisations.
- support the native biodiversity and productive capacity of the property
Organisation
Firestone Sanctuary is a purpose-driven project and, as such, will become a non-profit organisation. This is still being set up. There will be no shares in the land, or any financial barrier to entry, only practical concerns relating to the physical space and social interrelations.
The founder, Timotheos, is currently the legal landowner, but the intention is to shift this to the non-profit organisation or similar trust, after the mortgage is paid off and the governance structure is created with members.
Location
The property is quite mountainous with semi-cleared eucalypt woodland at the East side and more lush subtropical forest on the West side. It is currently accessed through the East, via Dayboro, and a road will be made to join through to access the D'Aguilar National Park directly via vehicle. It is one hour from Brisbane by car.
Environment
It is a really beautiful space. Majestic pheasant coucals, friendly brush turkeys, whip birds, bell birds, and other bird life contribute to a relaxing and gentle soundscape. Bandicoots, wallabies and lace monitors often come quite close to the human spaces, curious yet cautious. There are many beautiful trees in the bush and forest, including strangler figs, eucalypts, ferns, sandpaper figs, native raspberries and other biodiversity. At night, there are fireflies nearby outside - they even come inside! - bioluminescent fungi in the forest, owls, shooting stars, and the cosmic expanse of the crystal clear night sky.
There is a bit of work to do to get this property healed of historical environmental damage caused by logging, intensive farming, and invasive species. Some areas are dominated by invasive lantana, giant devil's figs, cat's claw vine and other exotic species. Already work is being done to clear much of this. On the plus side, delicious strawberry guavas tend to grow like weeds!
