Great Southern (previously Great Southern Plantations) was a tax-effective (MIS) bluegum plantation business founded by John Young and Helen Sewell which expanded in wine, almonds, cattle and other agricultural endeavours before failing spectacularly in 2009. According to the prospectus for its $45 million ASX float in 1999, the Great Southern Group had its foundations in 1987. Its purpose was to participate in the emerging timber plantation markets throughout Australia. Its original entry was into the New South Wales softwood plantation industry. From there Great Southern Plantations expanded into the hardwood plantation industry, in particular the plantation regions of the Great Southern in Western Australia and the Green Triangle in South Australia and Victoria.
For a number of years prior to its float and well after the group offered to the public, prescribed interest and managed investment scheme (MIS) prospectuses for its Tasmanian blue gum plantation projects.
The group's core assets at float were:
* in excess of 14,700 hectares of timber plantations under
* a profitable finance business
* an established distribution network.
