One piece of land, one connected idea
The sanctuary, the land and the bigger dream: none of it is separate. It's all one vision for what fifteen acres in Roxburgh can become.
The Sanctuary
This is where it all starts, and it will always be at the heart of what we do. Right now that's five sheep, two alpacas, two cats and two dogs, all properly cared for out of our own pockets while we build the rest of what Riverview will become. As we grow, this is where animals needing rescue, rehabilitation or simply a permanent home will find one.
Paddocks, a Barn and a Proper Medical Room
Right now, care happens wherever it needs to, in a spare corner of the yard or wherever gets the job done. As Riverview grows, we want to build proper, purpose-built spaces for it.
That means multiple fenced paddocks, so animals can be grouped by their needs rather than squeezed into whatever's free. A barn for shelter, hay and equipment. And a dedicated medical room for check-ups, quarantine and recovery, so an injury or a new arrival doesn't have to disrupt everyone else.
Enrichment matters just as much as space. Different shelters, safe things to climb and rub against, varied terrain and the ability to rotate paddocks aren't luxuries. They're part of what good welfare looks like day to day, and they're central to how we want this place to grow.
Living on the Land
We live on the same land as the animals in our care, not next door to the sanctuary but right in the middle of it. Being here day and night is what makes constant, hands-on care possible, and it's a big part of why Riverview will always feel more like a family than an institution.
Permaculture & Land Stewardship
Caring for animals well means caring for the land they live on. We're working towards permaculture-based land management: healthy pasture, thoughtful water use and a property that regenerates rather than depletes. It isn't a separate project from the sanctuary. It's what will keep the sanctuary going for the long term.
The Bigger Dream
Further down the track, we'd love Riverview to become a place people can come to, not just read about. That might mean a small number of cabins where people can stay, meet the animals and see what sanctuary life looks like day to day. It might mean volunteers helping out, school groups and locals learning about animal welfare, and room for more animals who need a safe place to land.
None of it will happen overnight, and we'll only grow as fast as we can do it properly. But it's the part of the vision that ties everything else together: the animals, the land and the people who care about them, all in one place.
The animals, the land and the people who care about them. None of it works without the others.
A sanctuary needs healthy land to stand on. Healthy land is easier to look after with people who understand and support the work, and people understand it best once they've seen it for themselves. That's the whole idea, and it's why Riverview is one connected place with one connected purpose.
Follow the vision as it grows
We're now a registered charity, which is a big step, but it's still early days. None of this happens overnight, and you can watch it take shape one step at a time.