Dreams to RealityThe early steps towards our wetlands centre

A Dream Becomes Reality

The Wetlands Conservation Society envisioned to create a centre for wetlands management and education to service the southern metropolitan area. This dream was realised in 1993 when a building was constructed through funding. The Commonwealth Government contributed – $296,000, the scouts – $50,000 and the City of Cockburn – $19,000.The building was constructed on land originally used as a family farm, then as a council dog pound and later as a Centre for scouting activities.

The Lotteries Commission and the City of Cockburn, through a Youth Link job-training program, funded the landscaping. Participating groups and the City of Cockburn funded the furnishing of the Centre. Gordon Reid Foundation for Conservation funded the display equipment. This is how our fledgling organisation came to be – through the collaboration and goodwill of our community.

The Wetlands Conservation Society played a major role in the establishment of the Centre and for the first seven years, it managed the Centre under an agreement with the City of Cockburn. The Centre took over its own management following its incorporation in the year 2000.