Celebrating 30 Years of Wirraminna
Three decades of community volunteering, environmental education and restoration
Capacity building - LEP_23-019_LLC09
The issue
In the 1990s, opportunities for place-based environmental education and community engagement in the local area were limited. A degraded 4-hectare former stock reserve and watering place at Burrumbuttock presented an opportunity to create a space where people could learn about nature, restoration and local ecosystems. Achieving this vision required long-term community commitment, volunteer effort and strong local partnerships.
The solution
Established in 1995, Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre was created and supported by volunteers and community partners. Over 30 years, the site has evolved into a thriving environmental education centre featuring native gardens, wetlands, grassy woodland restoration, walking tracks, interpretive signage, a Discovery Centre and community facilities. Education programs, public access and volunteer involvement remain central to the site’s success.
The impact
Wirraminna has become a valued hub for environmental education, tourism and community connection, welcoming over 4,000 visitors annually. Its programs have received numerous state and national awards, helping generations of students and community members connect with the natural environment. The 30-year celebration, held with Wattle Day in August 2025, attracted 400 attendees, celebrating decades of volunteer contribution and environmental stewardship.
Wirraminna demonstrates the lasting impact of community-led environmental action. What began as a degraded bush block has grown into an award-winning education and tourism destination, powered by volunteers. Thirty years on, Wirraminna continues to inspire learning, conservation and community connection for future generations.
The Wirraminna 30 year celebrations were supported by the NSW Government through Murray Local Land Services’ Awareness raising activities to promote the value of on-farm natural assets program and made possible by the NSW Landcare Enabling Program, a collaboration between Local Land Services and Landcare NSW supported by the NSW Government.
Key facts
- 4,000 people each year visit the 4-hectare environmental education site in Burrumbuttock, established in 1995
- 8ha woodland and grassland restoration, 12 years in the making
- Features 8 km of walking tracks, wetlands, native gardens and Discovery Centre
- Multiple state and national awards for environmental education
- 400 people attended the 30-year celebration with 188 volunteer hours contributed to event delivery