We are working
to fulfil our vision
Check out our progress so far
Hobsons Bay City Council Priority
Hobsons Bay City Council has included Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre as a Regional Priority in their advocacy papers for State and Federal government.
Read the Prospectus.
Current Grants
We thank the Ross Trust for its grant to support our conservation program from 2023 to 2025. The Ross Trust is a charitable organisation that aims to create positive social and environmental change for Victorians. It was founded in 1970 by Roy Everard Ross.
We also thank Hobsons Bay City Council, which is supporting the training of our wetland guides through its Make it Happen Grants program.
We are excited to receive a grant from the Victorian Government’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund. The grant will support our Open Day on 10 May 2025, where we’ll invite the diverse western suburbs community to join us. The West Gate Neighbourhood Fund helps not-for-profit organisations in Melbourne’s inner west while the West Gate Tunnel Project is being built.
The Victorian Government’s Port Phillip Bay Fund is supporting our bird monitoring masterclasses and resource production.
Our Stories
You can learn more about our wetlands on our blog posts.
Gallery
You’ll see beautiful shots of our wetlands in our photo gallery.
Partnerships and Feasibility Study
After a series of Strategic Planning Round Tables in 2019 and 2020 with key partners—Hobsons Bay City Council, Deakin University, Melbourne Water, Greater Western Water (formerly City West Water), Ecolinc, Cirqit Health, and Birdlife Australia—we came up with ideas for a new Wetlands Centre and established formal partnerships.
You can read the Feasibility Study. Completed in 2020, it explains the need for a Wetlands Centre in Melbourne’s west. It also details how the Wetlands Centre will be a sustainable operation.
Birds in our Wetlands
Learn more about the birds in our wetlands on our blog posts.
To highlight the importance of our wetlands to birds, Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre invited Kevin Wood to write the booklet Birds of the Cheetham and Altona Key Biodiversity Area, along with accessible fact sheets for each of its chapters. You can read the booklet and the fact sheets.
Outreach
Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre volunteers love helping to connect people with nature and promoting the Wetlands Centre at various public events, including World Migratory Bird Day, Sea Shepherd’s Open Day, local festivals and the Volunteer Expo.
Photo: Gordon Lescinsky
Response to the SoE 2021 Report
In July 2022, the Australian Government released the 2021 State of the Environment Report. It shows that our natural environment is in poor condition. The report stresses that we must act now to improve the environment for our health and wellbeing.
You can read the State of the Environment Report and our response to the report.
Concept Design
Grimshaw has completed the concept design of a purpose built wetlands centre at H D Graham Reserve. Grimshaw leads a team of specialist consultants that bring expertise in wetlands landscaping, indigenous design and culturally responsive engagement practices. HBWC is working closely with Hobsons Bay City Council who are managing the design phase of the project.
Heritage Hobsons Bay presented an online panel discussion that explores indigenous cultural heritage landscapes featuring indigenous architect Jefa Greenaway, and Nick Griffin, landscape architect. Biophilic and Indigenous design principles guided the design. The panel was hosted by Hobsons Bay City Council.
Find out more about Caring for Country – indigenous design principles by watching the video:
Wetland Link International's webinar on wetland design also featured Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre with a conversation featuring Anna Wilson, former Principal Consultant at WWT and Gordon Lescinsky, Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre.
You can watch the session Wetland centre designers in conversation: