Over 60 years of conservation

The David G. Stead Memorial Wild Life Research Foundation of Australia was established in 1963 as a memorial to David G. Stead – one of Australia’s pioneer conservationists. Through its development and life, the Foundation has also become a lasting legacy of Thistle Stead, Allen Strom, Ivor Wyatt and many other leading environmental conservationists of the mid 20th century.

The Stead Foundation is a project based organisation. It’s first and most enduring project was Wirrimbirra Sanctuary in the NSW Southern Highlands. Started in 1963, the sanctuary was created as a memorial to David G. Stead and became much more. The word Wirrimbirra, meaning ‘to preserve’, came from an elder of the traditional custodians of the land, the D’harawal people and was in the area of the first recorded European settler sightings of the Lyrebird, Wombat and Koala, over 200 years ago. The Sanctuary served many purposes over the last 50 years: a field studies centre, research facility, native plant arboretum, conservation area of the native Bargo Brush, a wildlife refuge, a peaceful protected area for native animals that not fit for release into the wild, and a living memorial to pioneer environmentalists and contributors. Sadly the sanctuary and its heritage were extensively destroyed in the black summer fires of 2019.

The Foundation and Wirrimbirra was meeting place for pioneer conservationists, like Myles Dunphy, Vincent Serventy, Allen Strom, who served on the board or contributor to Foundation activity and development of the sanctuary. The Foundation was also one of Wollondilly Shires’ longest continuously running businesses with nursery sales of native plants, renowned for their suitability for homes and bush regeneration in the local climate.

This legacy continues today, in projects for advocacy, education, and heritage. We work closely with partners to achieve valuable environmental and community outcomes. The Foundation receives no ongoing funding and relies on grants, donations and bequests to fund its work.