Oyster reefs once shaped Australia's temperate ecosystems but have suffered a 95% decline due to rapid industrialisation. While restoration of Angasi oyster (Ostrea angasi) reefs has typically focused on the subtidal, our research highlights their unexpected resilience in the intertidal, presenting new pathways for their recovery. Historically, Angasi formed reefs across tidal zones; however, as subtidal reefs were more prominent, intertidal reefs faded from living memory. Today, significant biotic and abiotic pressures likely limit Angasi’s natural recovery at higher tidal heights — pressures other intertidal habitat-forming species may have previously mitigated. We used a multispecies approach to test this by placing Angasi oysters in the intertidal and shallow subtidal alongside another prominent intertidal shellfish, blue mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). This study examined whether the presence of blue mussels and predator exclusion altered the survival of Angasi oysters along a tidal gradient. This allowed us to understand whether the presence of mussels may mitigate abiotic (e.g., desiccation) and biotic (e.g., predation) stressors. Our findings highlight the importance of considering positive ecosystem interactions when planning restoration projects, demonstrating how facilitation can increase the survival of Angasi, especially in the face of harsh environmental conditions.