[2] They live in the subsoil of blue, grey or red clay soils along stream banks and some south- or west-facing hills of their remaining habitat which is in Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.

They eat organic matter as well as bacteria and fungi, which may have allowed them to better adapt to the change from a forest to pasture living area.

[9] Their natural habitats are grasslands, and while they can survive beneath pastures,[9] cultivation, heavy cattle grazing and effluent run-off are adversarial to the species.

[3][2] Until it closed in 2012 amid animal welfare concerns,[10] Wildlife Wonderland Park near Bass, Victoria, was home to the Giant Earthworm Museum.

Interest in the giant Gippsland earthworm has been exploited by the local tourist industry with an annual Karmai Festival in Korumburra.