Explore Australia’s world-heritage listed ecology

Lord Howe Island is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand. It is a World Heritage site with high biodiversity, including seabird nesting sites, flightless birds such as the Lord Howe Woodhen, and the world’s rarest insect, the Lord Howe Island Phasmid.

Approximately 75% of Lord Howe Island’s original natural vegetation remains intact and undisturbed. Likewise, its beaches, coral reef and marine environment are pristine. These conditions make Lord Howe Island an excellent place to observe evolution, in particular: natural selection, speciation, and the impact of introduced species on native flora and fauna.

A Land Untouched By Time

Because of its isolation and size, Lord Howe Island makes for an interesting study site into adaptation and evolution as there is little interference from external forces. However, the size and remoteness of Lord Howe Island have also made it vulnerable to the few external forces that have made it to the Island. These include rats and mice who have caused considerable damage to the ecology of the Island. However, eradication programs have seen both these species removed from the Island. These programs are a demonstration of the work that can be done to preserve and conserve precious habitats and the value of engaging local communities in these programs to ensure success.

If you are visiting Lord Howe Island, get in touch with Ian for a private guided tour, as he is keen to share his passion for the island and its environment.

Artist in residence – Joshua Yeldham

LordHowe_JoshuaYeldham_LessonFrame_Sculpting with Joshua YeldhamCool Australia is proud to announce its collaboration with one of Australia’s most loved and honoured landscape artists Joshua Yeldham. Joshua Yeldham is an award-winning Australian artist that has held collections and exhibited all around the world. His spiritual connection with land and nature is ever so clear in his detailed artworks and how he interacts with his environment to create and build on his art.

At a young age, Joshua knew that creativity, painting, drawing & making was innate to his character and found himself to discover and rely on creativity just as one would a friend. Making and exploring materials became a means of expression just as one would speak or write stories; Joshua would draw. Joshua’s works consider the protective care of nature as a spiritual power and highlight the refuge natural spaces have offered us.

As Joshua got older, he practised his craft like an artisan and developed his own artistic process. He relies on nature to fuel his creativity and uses art to create a dialogue about mythical teachings, spirituality & the land. The unforgettable detail, varying texture & use of colour depict wondrous paintings of the Australian bush, rivers, mountains, flora & fauna.

Lord Howe – Artist in Residence Resources Years 5 to 8

Throughout the unit of lessons, Joshua talks deeply about his connection with owls and his emotion-evoking journey through adulthood. The artist’s sculptures and paintings of owls became a metaphor for hope and a way for him to unpack his thoughts. Joshua discusses this insight and journey through art-making while he teaches students how to sculpt and mould their very own owl and friend.

Making Sculptures with Joshua Yeldham – Visual Arts

Have you ever thought of art as a friend, something that could keep you grounded, safe or help you reconnect with who you are and nature?
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 Artist in Residence
– Visual Arts

Students will discover how an ‘Artist Residence’ can help inform and complement the creative process and why artists embark on new journeys to produce work.
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Painting Landscapes and Creating Mindscapes – Visual Arts

Students investigate how some artists paint using perspective, foreground, middle ground, and background. Whereas other artists have developed a non-traditional approach to sketching and painting.
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Creative Intuition
– Visual Arts

Students will explore a new place and discover how nature can foster creativity and inspire students to give birth to new ways of seeing and doing.
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Making Marks And Patterns in Nature – Visual Arts

Nature is filled with marks, patterns and beautiful designs that occur naturally and evolve rather frequently. In this lesson, students are invited to investigate visual patterns and how repetitive marks are used to create patterns and designs.
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Lord Howe Primary Resources Years 5 & 6

In the lessons in this unit, students will explore the geographical and ecological features of Lord Howe Island, the work involved in eradicating invasive species, and the unique evolution and speciation that has occurred amongst the island’s flora and fauna.

Introducing Lord Howe Island
– HASS

Students begin by thinking about what an island is before locating Lord Howe Island on a map. They then work in groups to create their own map of Lord Howe Island.
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 Animal Adaptations
– Science

Students investigate the impact of invasive species on Lord Howe Island. They begin by reviewing their prior knowledge of invasive species and how they can impact the environment.
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Invasive Species
– English, Science

Students look at the physiology of the heart and lungs and how oxygen works in the body. They can build a model of their lungs out of recycled materials and work on some breathing exercises. 
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People Power
– HASS, Science

Students think about the impacts humans can have on our environment and the actions we can take to address these challenges.
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Lord Howe Secondary Resources Years 8 & 10

In the lessons in this unit, students will explore the geographical and ecological features of Lord Howe Island, the work involved in eradicating invasive species, and the unique evolution and speciation that has occurred amongst the island’s flora and fauna.

Community Led Biosecurity
– Geography, Science – Year 8

Students will use Lord Howe Island’s rodent eradication program as a case study of the positive impact a successfully conducted program in combination with a sense of community stewardship can have on a native environment and local flora and fauna.
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Introduced Species
– Geography – Year 8

Students learn how to train their muscles to achieve specific movement goals. They will investigate the importance of warming up, strengthening and stretching and how these affect strength, agility and technique. 
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Natural Selection
– Science – Year 10

Students will learn about the different forms of evolution that can occur in a population. They will then play a fun card game to simulate natural selection.
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Simulated Speciation
– Science – Year 10

Students investigate how personal strengths and weaknesses make each individual unique and how a coach uses this diversity to create winning teams. Students get the opportunity to leverage their strengths through a game.
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With Thanks to our Partners

Joshua Yeldham is an award-winning Australian artist that has held collections and exhibited all around the world. His spiritual connection with land and nature is ever so clear in his detailed artworks and how he interacts with his environment to create and build on his art. Joshua’s works consider the protective care of nature as a spiritual power and highlight the refuge natural spaces have offered us.

Ian is a trained biologist, amongst many other skills, and has been living on Lord Howe Island since 1980. He is the author of 11 books on Lord Howe Island, including the most recent 264 page beautiful coffee table book on the World Heritage values of Lord Howe Island, contributed to some 60 papers and articles working with scientists across numerous fields, run a number of conservation and research project, and has been employed as a location guide for film documentary projects.

Cool Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present and emerging. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.