CORRIDORS FOR CARNABYS
'Nuts About Carnabys' program
A key component to urgently boost food supply for our starving Carnabys planting of food trees in strategic areas of the Perth metro region using their most favoured treat, Macadamia Nuts!
While this does not replace the urgent need for stopping further clearing of Carnabys habitat, and restoration of bushland to return their natural, diverse food sources, the addition of these trees is the fastest way to help the population with their immediate food crises
With support from the University of Queensland Corridors for Carnabys has secured the first ever shipment of a Macadamia cultivar that we are calling 'Mach-1: The fastest-fruiting macadamia in the west!'. We also have limited number of the Mach-2 variety. These are similar to Mach-1 but a smaller growing dwarf form.
These compact trees can produce astonishingly large crops of huge nuts in as little as 2-3 years from planting. These have been released to UWA under the Corridors for Carnabys program specifically for help with the forage crisis Carnabys are experiencing.
2026 Macadamia allocation is complete. Signup to our newsletter to receive updates on the project, including announcements for the 2027 Macadamia allocation!
Planting and caring for your Macadamia
Sabrina Han's top tips!
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Dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as your pot - you need to deep plant.
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Add wetting agent, followed by a mix of compost and manure.
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Place the tree into the hole 10cm deeper than it is in the pot, add more compost and manure, mix with some of the soil from the hole.
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Press down to remove air pockets.
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Add more wetting agent followed by slow release fertiliser and water in.
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Tree must be mulched with leafy materials (not wood mulch) for protection of the root system.
ALLERGEN INFORMATION
While Macadamia nut allergies are relatively uncommon (<5% of tree nut allergies). As with all nuts, reactions are triggered by specific protein molecules only found inside the kernel of the nut itself. The rest of the tree (including the nut shell) does not contain this protein. Flowers, pollen, leaves, branches and wood are therefore non-allergenic.
The nuts have exceptionally hard shells, typically required pressures of 300 psi (think of a baby elephant balancing on one tiptoe on a postage stamp), and Carnabys Cockatoos are one of the few birds than can open these nuts.
Thus Macadamia trees can, and do, coexist in public spaces (Kings Park for example).