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Current Grants
The Ross Trust
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.
Hobsons Bay City Council
We also thank Hobsons Bay City Council, which is supporting the training of our wetland guides through its Make it Happen Grants program.
Through its Make it Happen Grants program, Hobsons Bay City Council is also supporting the delivery of our events to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day in October 2025 and May 2026.
Victorian Government
Port Phillip Bay Fund
HBWC’s bird monitoring masterclasses in 2024 and 2025, and our production of resources on the birds of the Cheetham and Altona Key Biodiversity Area, was supported by the Victorian Government through the Port Phillip Bay Fund.
Victorian Government
West Gate Neighbourhood Fund
The $10 million West Gate Neighbourhood Fund is a Victorian Government initiative to support community projects in the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong City Council areas, while the West Gate Tunnel Project is under construction.
Through its West Gate Neighbourhood Fund, the Victorian Government is supporting HBWC to deliver a World Wetlands Day celebration of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage on 7 February 2026.
A previous grant from the Victorian Government’s West Gate Neighbourhood Fund that supported delivery of our ‘Connect Communities in Nature' Open Day on 10 May 2025, where we invited the diverse western suburbs community to join us to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day.
Resources
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.
See and learn
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Read our blog posts to learn more about the wetlands and the rich biodiversity inhabiting these valuable environments.
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View our photo gallery to see beautiful shots of our wetlands, birdlife and the activities and events we hold.
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Contact us because our 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.
Regional Priority
Hobsons Bay City Council has included Hobsons Bay Wetlands Centre as a Regional Priority in their advocacy papers for State and Federal government.
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.
Completed in 2020, the feasibility study explains the need for a Wetlands Centre in Melbourne’s west. It also details how the Wetlands Centre will be a sustainable operation.
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:
Annual Reports
We’ve produced an annual report for every year since incorporation in 2018. They summarise activities completed in each financial year and include financial statements.