Billionaire couple gifts $120 million to nature, citing a ‘passion for bark and leaves’

Alexandra and Julian Burt are handing over $120 million to environmental projects, a donation described by insiders as a genuine "passion for bark and leaves."

The Burt duo belong to the Wright mining family, a lineage that has long been synonymous with Australian wealth. Their gift ranks among the largest environmental endowments the country has ever seen.

At $120 million, the contribution dwarfs the typical conservation grant, turning the usual modest grant into something that looks more like a busker’s tip than a serious funding stream.

One can only wonder what the new reserve will be called – hopefully not something like "Julian’s Place for Thinking About Soil," even if the phrase does capture the quirky spirit of the donation.

There’s a distinct irony in a mining family turning its attention to protecting the very ecosystems that their operations have historically impacted, but perhaps that’s the most refreshing part of this bark‑and‑leaf‑filled generosity.