Two luxury self contained accommodation on 300 secluded oceanfront acres on the southern coast of Yorke Peninsula is making waves in wildlife conservation with their wildlife-friendly garden welcoming the return of the endangered bitterbush blue butterfly.
Yondah Beach House and Seafire Beach House, both members of the newly established marketing brand Secluded Stays, owned by Michele Bian and Nick Tureton, offer idyllic and secluded coastal retreats in South Australia.
Yondah Beach House is a stunning pet-friendly beachfront property located on the picturesque Yorke Peninsula, accommodating families and larger groups, and featuring modern amenities, a fully equipped kitchen, and expansive outdoor areas that lead directly to the sandy shores.
Yorke Peninsula’s only five star luxury holiday hideaway, Seafire Beach House, situated near the stunning Foul Bay, offers a luxurious escape with breathtaking ocean views. This elegant property is perfect for couples or small families seeking a romantic getaway or a tranquil retreat.
Both “only three hours from the city”, Michele says Yondah and Seafire Beach Houses offer the chance to unwind and reconnect with nature while enjoying the comforts of home in breathtaking coastal settings.
Owners Michele and Nick’s commitment to local conservation is a remarkable testament to the positive impact of local gardening initiatives. Michele says that over that past ten years, her and Nick have been working hard to re-vegetate their two vast accomodation properties with local not-for-profit, Trees for Life.
“We’ve now got amazing regeneration with wildlife and insects coming back to the plot, including Malle Fowl, Western pygmy possums and the beautiful bitterbush blue butterfly,” she said.
Back in 2021, Michele purchased coast bitterbush (Adriana quadripartita) seedlings, which is the sole food source for the endangered bitterbush blue butterfly (Theclinesthes albocincta), from local environmental group Bringing Back the Butterflies.
“It was almost immediate, I was shocked!” Michele said on the return of the bitterbush blue.
It only took one summer for a kaleidoscope – a group of butterflies – of SA’s endangered bitterbush blue butterfly (Theclinesthes albocincta) to make her garden home.
“We’re madly conversation mind and it was always our intension with the space,” Michele says.
“It was empty paddock. When Trees for Life asked us if we’d like to revegetate the land, we said absolutely!”
This was the first pivotal step in their mission to enhance local biodiversity along the coast of Yorke Peninsula. Now they’ve planted seeds, native trees and all kinds of wildlife-friendly scrubs across their two 300-acre coastal sites.
Michele says it took about five years for the changes to really take affect.
“But we’ve got permeant residents now!” she added.
Michele explains the fascinating lifecycle of these butterflies.
“The adult butterflies pollinate the flowers of the coast bitterbush and lay their eggs on its leaves. Once they hatch, the caterpillars enter into a remarkable symbiotic relationship with ants,” she said.
“During the day, the ants carry the caterpillars down into their nests to protect them from birds, returning them to the surface at night to feed on the plant.
“In exchange, the caterpillars produce a sugary secretion from consuming the plant sap, effectively making the ants their caretakers.”
Blossums for Possums is another incentive by Michele and Nick, where guests at their accomodation can purchase a nest box for local possums to call home on site, in their favourite type of tree, Eucalyptus Rugosa.
Michele and Nick’s work echos the work of the Green Adelaide initiative to transform the city into a more butterfly-friendly environment, focusing on rewilding efforts to increase the populations of rare butterfly species. The program includes targeted management activities like plantings and raising awareness about these important insects, while also assessing the conservation status of butterflies across the metropolitan area.
Living in the inner city herself, Michele says the coast bitterbush and other wildlife-friendly plants can grow across the state – even in planter boxes on balconies!
“I’ve got a little courtyard and I’ve got a pool of Butterfly feeding plants, with nettles for all the other butterflies,” she says.
Butterflies do more for us than just adding colour and beauty to our gardens. They are special native pollinators, and an essential building block of a healthy environment. They help fruits, vegetables and flowers to produce new seeds.
They are also an important — though low-level — member of the food chain. They’re a food source for birds, spiders, lizards, mice and other animals. Caterpillars are also eaten by bats and birds among other creatures.
Nationwide there are around 400 different species of butterfly and South Australia has 78 native species with around 30 of those currently under threat including the yellowish sedge-skipper, bitterbush blue and the chequered copper butterfly.
Recognising that coast bitterbush has become increasingly rare in South Australia, Michele and Nick have been diligently adding more of these plants to their site each year.
The results have been nothing short of astounding. From their very first summer, they have delighted in witnessing bitterbush blue butterflies gracefully flitting around the gardens.
Michele is passionate about spreading the word.
“Anyone living in a coastal area on Yorke Peninsula should consider growing coast bitterbush in their garden. It’s a simple way to help conserve this beautiful and endangered South Australian butterfly,” she says.
Through their efforts, Michele and Nick are enriching their own garden and also playing a crucial role in the conservation of local wildlife.
“These small patches of bush can have something incredibly rare and beautiful. It’s really important that we actually do observe what’s in our gardens, what’s in our little village,” Michele said.
“And once you get into it, it’s dreadfully addictive!” she laughed.
To find the right plants to attract butterflies to your backyard, check out Butterfly Conservation SA or Bring Back the Butterflies on Facebook. For native seedlings, find them on State Flora.
For more details on these stunning accomodation options, visit Yondah Beach House or check out Seafire Beach House.
Read about other local conversation efforts, here.
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