Our history
The story of ACF is one of vision and achievement. It is a remarkable history of people and place and bears witness to an environment organisation that is a driving force for change in Australia.
The birth of a conservation foundation
Australia needed a national conservation body. In the mid-1960s ACF was founded drawing on Australia’s scientific, public service, business and political decision makers. The commitment to achieve a healthy environment for all Australians had begun.
The 1970s and a decade of growth
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s approach to campaigning became more strategic, active and independent and in 1973, ACF's well-known magazine Habitat was launched. The 1970s had become a decade of increased public awareness of conservation issues.
Major conservation gains in the 1980s
In the 1980s ACF celebrated a moratorium on commercial whaling and the declaration of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Peter Garrett became president and the decade closed with ACF recognised as the leading national advocate for the environment.
Successes and struggles through the 1990s
The nineties became the ‘Decade of Landcare’ for ACF as the organisation sought to inspire a society that was environmentally responsible. Persevering through a recession, ACF continued to campaign unabated on water and energy issues.
ACF leads the environmental evolution
The 2000s became a decade that saw the Australian Conservation Foundation work with the community, business and governments to find solutions to push for action on climate change, the Murray-Darling and Tasmania's magnificent forests.
Still inspiring a commitment to sustainability
The beginning of the new decade has so far seen many successes through a challenging financial time for the ACF. Much of the decade remains unwritten, but producing transformative change in Australian society is high on ACF’s agenda.
