About Us

Who We Are

In 2022, four friends got together to purchase 264 acres of farm land on the cliffs above Myponga Beach (Kaurna Country) in South Australia. This land will be a place of deepening connection. A place to learn new skills, to contribute to healing and biodiversity, to spend time in retreat, and to spend time with ourselves. Eventually we will build a state of the art retreat centre, and the whole place will be owned by the community.

The Circular Initiative is a name chosen to highlight the various circles of influence participating in this project, as well as the ways in which we influence (and are influenced by) the world around us. It’s a recognition of the interdependence of all life on Earth, and a celebration of the diversity of skills and knowledge that our friends and members bring to this project.

It all started when four friends - Triton Tunis-Mitchell, Tessa Leon, Maureen Ritchie and Isabel Michell - got together to purchase the land with a view to restore the native habitat and build a local retreat centre in proximity to Adelaide. In 2025 another friend Lisa Tarca joined the core group, and hundreds more people have participated in this place in other ways.

Some of the highlights include:

  • Starting action on a plan to plant over three million native grasses and several thousand overstory trees; restarting the local ecosystem services and creating a biodiversity refuge for the future

  • Countless working bees with BioR learning about seeds, weeds and habitat restoration

  • A special gathering and aural performance by Tessa Leon and Adam Whiting for Nature Festival.

  • The construction of a 100 acre kangaroo fence to protect native plants in the first phases

  • Establishing a native seed nursery that will provide rare seeds for the property

  • Pledges of major and minor investment from over 100 community members

  • Planning approval submission for an eco-sensitive retreat centre


So what’s next?

In 2026 we will have our first Seed Planting Festival, a three day event in June with music, talks, and family getting over 16,000 plants in the ground. It’s a way to introduce wider circles of friends to the land and the vision, and we need your help both in preparation and on the day.

In the background, long term relationships are being built to find the right investors for the initial stages of our already designed and approved retreat centre. With several million already committed, this longer-timeline vision needs the right group of people who share our vision for a multi-generational, community owned facility. If that sounds like you or someone you know, we’d prefer to get to know you in person.

Everyone is welcome to contribute to and participate in this unique community project.

Please subscribe to stay up to date, and we hope to see you soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes! We have monthly working bees which are a great time to come and get to know the place or have a guided tour.

    Join via our Contact Us page.

  • Our 2026 planting festival is being held June 6-8 (Sat-Mon). It is a family-friendly event and you can participate in one or more of the days.

    This is a ticketed event. Please sign up to our mailing list to be notified when tickets open. .

  • Yes. We are currently engaging with major investors (>$500k). If you are interested in becoming a major investor we would love to meet face to face and get to know you and your background. There a tax efficient pathways to support which we can tailor to your preferences.

    Please reach out via the Contact page.