The Wilderness Society Newcastle acknowledges the Awabakal and Worimi peoples on whose country we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge the ongoing important role First Nations peoples play in our communities and in connecting us to land and water. Awabakal and Worimi Lands meet at Maiyaa, otherwise named the Hunter River, and the Harbour here is also host to the world’s largest coal port. The Awabakal people play a significant role in shaping the environment of this region. The wedge-tailed eagle has special significance for the Awabakal people. Worimi country includes a sacred and unique sand dune ecosystem. From 1998 to 2001 The Wilderness Society worked with Worimi peoples to protect the dunes from Stockton Bight to Anna Bay with the creation of a national park.
The Wilderness Society of NSW sprang up in the early 1980s. The Newcastle group branched out to dedicate itself to local and national campaigns. The community stands shoulder-to-shoulder to protect the places we love, seen here at Nobbys beach, Newcastle. The Wilderness Society Newcastle has been involved in a range of campaigns for NSW; to have a Wilderness Act, to protect Barrington Tops and Stockton Bight, to achieve a long-term pause on old growth forest logging from Newcastle to the Queensland border, to create a Port Stephens Marine Park and to protect the Williams Valley from the Tillegra Dam—to name just a few!
We continue to connect with our local community to protect land and water and work towards climate justice. Today, we’re fighting against coal seam gas exploration in the Pilliga Forest in North West NSW, protecting our marine environment from risky offshore gas fields along the Newcastle coast and stopping new coal mines from carving up our wilderness. The good thing is, we have a whole community of concerned locals behind us and two strong volunteer teams. Help nature by joining the fight—any way you can. We are located at ‘Pachamama House Community Hub’ at 21 Gordon Avenue, Hamilton NSW 2303. Our office hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5pm. Drop by sometime for a chat or to say hello. We’re a friendly bunch. Click here for upcoming Newcastle and Regional NSW events.
Our people
Victoria Jack — Campaign manager
Bronwyn McDonald — Community organiser
Awabakal Land, Newcastle Campaign Centre, 21 Gordon Avenue, Hamilton, [email protected]. Read our constitution. Follow the Wilderness Society on Facebook for updates and events.