Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary

Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary is a 535-hectare nature reserve near Linton, about 30 kilometres southwest of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, protecting and restoring woodland bird habitat under conservation covenants on its privately held land and an adjoining crown land flora and fauna reserve. It was begun in the 1960s by sheep farmer and birdwatcher Gordon Clarke, who cleared invasive gorse and replanted native vegetation, donating the original 31-hectare Bird Paddock to Bird Observation and Conservation Australia in 1975 and a further 13-hectare block, Grantiella, in 1980, continuing to add land through the 1980s and establishing an endowment before his death in 1996.