Heritage
The Foundation has played a vital role, bringing together leading experts and interests in the Australian Conservation movement. The Foundation’s board of directors is a who’s who of luminaries in Australia’s growing awareness of the importance and place of conservation and preservation. They include Thistle Stead, Allen Strom [NSW first Chief Guardian of Fauna], Vincent Serventy, Ivor Wyatt and many more national and local advocates. They also represent the close ties between the Foundation, Wildlife Preservation Society and National Trust [NSW], organisations that are linked by the progressive work and support of David G. Stead.
Wirrimbirra Sanctuary was significant for its role in the development of the conservation movement in NSW; its association with key persons who pioneered the conservation debate; as a natural area with a rich and diverse flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species; as a recreation and social area; as a historic site containing relics and cultural items, as well as being associated with the pioneering expeditions to the Southern Highlands; as an area containing extensive plantings of native plants including rare and endangered species, and as an area which encouraged investigations into the growing and propagation of native plants.
Sadly, most of Wirrimbirra Sanctuary was burnt to the ground in the Black Summer (2019/20) loosing the conservation area, heritage environment centre, nursery and vast arboretum of native Australian plants.