Our story starts in 1991, in the Liffey Valley of Tasmania.
Environmentalist Bob Brown purchased two forest blocks to protect them from logging, and a passionate community was born.
From those first few hundred hectares of land, we’ve grown into a leading national organisation. Now, we protect millions of hectares of land across the continent through our network of reserves, and our partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other landholders.
Our first Aboriginal partnership began in 2008 and set a new benchmark for our land management to centre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
This was the beginning of Bush Heritage leading with the right-way approach – meaning we honour both the knowledge systems of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and western ecological science. Today, we are a unified force for nature, working together across the country to protect life – from the smallest ant to the tallest tree.
Together we are creating a future that is healthy and resilient.
30 years and counting
From the dripping rainforests of Far North Queensland to the gentle grassy woodlands of NSW and Victoria; from the wide red plains of central Australia to the wildflowers of southwestern WA, a suite of animals and landscapes are better off because of Bush Heritage supporters.
Historian Sarah Martin documented our history in her book Restoring Nature Step by Step. Central to this story are the ecologists, researchers, land managers, Aboriginal groups, staff, donors and volunteers who’ve helped Bush Heritage to grow.
Today, it’s over 30 years since our humble beginnings. Thank-you to supporters past and present, for making this wonderful journey possible.