Gunnedah farmer Peter Loveridge has spent a lot of time and money planting trees where his ancestors cut them down.
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He's one of 16 local farmers taking part in a major Koala Habitat Restoration Project, which concludes this Spring.
The Australian native used to be quite common on one part of his property, but with the species battered by drought and long-term loss of habitat they saw their last koala in 2017.
He saw one a fortnight ago, just after the last of his habitat of 500 trees was planted, in what they hope to be a sign of things to come.
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"Another family member here on the farm saw one, in a spot where we used to traditionally see them, mind you," he said.
"It was a juvenile koala and hopefully that might mean there's some parents around. That was encouraging.
"Anecdotally they've just been really, really scarce [over the last few years]. And I think others involved in the project would say the same. People just haven't been seeing them."
Mr Loveridge hopes that his green zone of 500 specially-picked trees will help make his property a "haven for koalas", with other biodiversity benefits.
Spring marks the conclusion of the Tamworth Regional Landcare's three-year Koala Habitat Restoration Project.
Landcare has planted 9,273 trees on 45 hectares of land on 17 properties in Emerald Hill, Marys Mount, Ghoolendaadi, Gunnedah, Curlewis, Breeza, Piallaway, Pine Ridge, Werris Creek and Wallabadah.
Local Landcare Coordinator Penny Milson said they had planted a diverse range of trees and shrubs on the advice of their ecologist.
Mr Loveridge's family has lived in the vicinity of his Emerald Hill farm for 40 years. He's been involved in farming for 20 years.
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