A large outback nature reserve on the Warrego River plains, renowned for its extraordinary birdlife.
Bowra Sanctuary
Bowra Sanctuary is a 140 square kilometre nature reserve in the remote South West region of Queensland, Australia, situated near the outback town of Cunnamulla. It lies within the Mulga Lands bioregion on the Warrego River plains, occupying a transitional zone between the catchments of the Warrego and Paroo Rivers in the semi-arid interior of the continent. Managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the reserve represents one of the most important privately protected conservation areas in the Australian outback, combining former pastoral land with a mosaic of mulga woodlands, open eucalypt plains, and seasonal wetlands.
The sanctuary is most famous for its birdlife. More than 200 species of birds have been recorded on the property, including parrots, raptors, and a strong array of woodland and waterbirds, making it a key destination for birdwatchers interested in Australia's arid interior. Beyond birds, the reserve supports a wide range of mammals, reptiles, and frogs adapted to the harsh and variable conditions of the outback.
Bowra illustrates a broader conservation story in which former grazing country is being restored and managed primarily for native wildlife. The property is recognised for its mix of woodland, riparian, and wetland habitats, and for the continued presence of several threatened and declining species that depend on the remaining tracts of intact inland habitat in southern Queensland.