About Us

Terania Rainforest Publishing is an Australian family company owned by Hugh and Nan Nicholson.  It was established in 1985 with the publication of the first volume of Australian Rainforest Plants. 

Hugh and Nan Nicholson first moved to the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales from Victoria in 1974 and, along with running a farm and raising two daughters, established the first wholly rainforest nursery in Australia.  They pioneered the propagation and extensive use of rainforest plants in gardens and in reforestation on degraded lands.  They ran Terania Rainforest Nursery for almost 20 years before selling it in 1995.  The nursery can be contacted by following the link.

Hugh collected most of the seed for the nursery and combined the hunt for seeds with photographing plants in flower and fruit.  These photographs became the basis for the series of six books. 

Following their passion for rainforest the Nicholsons have travelled and worked extensively throughout Australia and the world, photographing plants, animals and landscapes as well as documenting land-use.

Along with other conservation ecologists they have formed a consulting company, Landmark Ecological Services P/L, which provides a range of ecological and conservation-oriented services

The Nicholsons have been involved in the protection of rainforest through activism, starting with the defence of the rainforest of Terania Creek.  The now-famous blockade of Terania Creek in 1979 led eventually to the establishment of the Nightcap National Park.  The battle continued with the rainforest campaign in New South Wales and culminated in the declaration of many rainforest national parks.  Most of these are included in the World Heritage Gondwana Rainforests of Australia.

They are also concerned with numerous human rights issues. They hope that their decision to donate a tithe of 10% of their income each year to conservation and social justice causes will become an accepted Australian tradition.