Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on the road to recovery after devastating bushfire

From The KI Islander by Stan Gorton - May 17th, 2020

Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary was one of several iconic Kangaroo Island destinations destroyed in the summer's bushfires. Co-owner Jim Geddes is hoping to rebuild once his insurance claim is sorted out and has been overseeing the recovery effort since the fire tore through on the afternoon of January 3, 2020.

The fire burned through the 5000-acre property, destroying the original homestead, visitor centre, manager's house and staff flats. Only the work sheds survived. Meanwhile down at Hanson Bay on the coast, only one building of Mr Geddes' holiday cabins survived and the adjacent settlement of shacks was also destroyed by the fire.

"We have been focussing on the wildlife but once we have settled and know where we stand with insurance, we will have the guidance to continue on to the next stage," Mr Geddes said.

"We will rebuild but we are using this opportunity to try and learn from previous mistakes and make it better." He always thought the open paddocks would have been enough to protect the sanctuary from fire, but he acknowledges the old homestead had always been vulnerable.

Source: https://www.theislanderonline.com.au/story/6759160/hanson-bay-wildlife-sanctuary-on-the-road-to-recovery