Berinbah Rangers caring for Bundjalung Country at Collum Collum Station
A continuing legacy of First Nations land management that stretches back generations at Collum Collum Station in northern NSW.
Two Berinbah Rangers are continuing a legacy of First Nations land management that stretches back generations through their work at Collum Collum Station in northern New South Wales.
Located on Bundjalung Country, where the Clarence River winds through ancient landscapes and the Gibraltar Ranges rise in the distance, Collum Collum Station is a 49.6 square kilometre property rich in history and biodiversity.
This land, transformed into a cattle enterprise in the late 1800s, has been cared for by the Bundjalung people for millennia, with their cultural practices passed down through the generations to connect past, present and future.
This legacy is being carried forward today by Bryce Cranney and Nash Falls, proud Bundjalung and Yaegle men who joined the Berinbah Rangers in April 2025. Their work includes cultural burning, a cool, low-intensity firestick farming practice that creates safe and abundant habitats for native animal species like the whip tailed and paddymelon kangaroos, koalas, squirrel gliders and the glossy black cockatoo.
They’re also safeguarding waterways, ensuring clean, healthy conditions for aquatic life such as the Eastern freshwater cod and platypus. With storm season approaching, their efforts are vital for waterbirds and fish that rely on strong, resilient tributaries.
“We’re not just working the land, we’re listening to it,” says Bryce. “Every trail we clear, every weed we remove, it’s about healing Country and honouring our Elders.”
Collum Collum borders the World Heritage-listed Gibraltar Ranges National Park and the historic Yulgilbar Station, a region of deep cultural and ecological significance. Bryce and Nash are mapping conservation zones and culturally important sites, ensuring that both nature and culture are protected for future generations.
“This is about more than conservation,” says Nash. “It’s about connection to our ancestors, to our community, and to the future of this land.”
The Berinbah Rangers program is a shining example of First Nations leadership in environmental stewardship. It’s a story of resilience, respect, and renewal where caring for Country is not just a job, but a sacred responsibility.
Indigenous rangers are leading the way in caring for Country around Australia, restoring ecosystems, protecting sacred sites, and passing on cultural knowledge. Their ancient techniques are restoring landscapes and protecting native species, creating the foundations to support biodiversity and reduce the risk of destructive bushfires.
This is a powerful reminder that when First Nations people lead, Country thrives – and this benefits all Australians.
The Australian Government is supporting Indigenous-led land and sea management through significant investment in the Indigenous Rangers Program and Indigenous Protected Areas initiative, which helps First Nations people to manage and care for their Country in accordance with Traditional Owners’ objectives.
With a commitment of $1.3 billion through to 2028, the Government is expanding the Indigenous Rangers Program to create over 1,900 new ranger jobs, many of them for First Nations women, and strengthening ranger organisations to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Government has also committed to providing further funding for the establishment of new Indigenous Protected Areas through the $250 million Saving Australia’s Bushland Program.
