Our Story
The history, the vision, the people behind it all
Wild Mountains
With a history from 1985, Wild Mountains is a not-for-profit environmental education centre in the Queensland Border Ranges. We offer engaging programs for schools, universities, and communities to learn about ecosystems and sustainability. Known for their biodiverse sanctuary of 230 acres spanning rainforest to eucalypt forest, Wild Mountains is a magical place promoting connection with nature and Earth.
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To enable people to lead fulfilling lives while sharing the earth’s resources with all of the life forms on this planet and without degrading our life support systems.
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To become a national centre of excellence in education, land-care and environmental objectives through education. We aim to inspire the community to lead environmentally conscious lifestyles, and actively participating in conserving habitat and other resources.
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- Environmental consciousness and sustainability
- Positive behavioural change
- Inclusivity and respect
At Wild Mountains, our core mission is to deliver engaging environmental education programs that illuminate the intricate connections of our planet's ecosystems and human actions. From hosting residential camps for schools in Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales to providing tailored programs for university students, international visitors, and local community workshops, Wild Mountains offers diverse learning opportunities. Embracing a vibrant and inclusive community spirit, Wild Mountains fosters an atmosphere centered on camaraderie and mutual support.
Our History
Wild Mountains began in response to pressures on our environment. Four individuals, Richard and Susan Zoomers, Geoffrey Smith and Kathryn Robertson had been very active in the early 1980s campaigning to save the Franklin River, the Daintree Rainforests and other precious areas of Australia and the planet.
According to Richard:
We became disillusioned that each campaign took enormous effort to mobilise support. They also invariably ended up polarising the community into the “good” guys and the “bad” guys. We thought that education was a far more effective way to move forward. If we could educate children and let them experience for themselves the awesome beauty and power of the planet and understand how it works, then they would make far more environmentally responsible decisions in their own lives. As children and later as adults they would take pressure off the world’s species and resources and look after this beautiful blue planet.
Early Days
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In 1985 Richard and Susan Zoomers, Geoffrey Smith and Kathryn Robertson came together to buy land, vehicles, building materials, and tools for an education centre on the Queensland / New South Wales border. This land had been selected by Robert Martin Collins whose foresight, inspiration and drive led to the declaration of Lamington National Park, two years after his death in 1915. R.M. Collins is Susan Zoomers great grandfather. He would approve that this block has passed down to his offspring and is being used for purposes that he no doubt would agree with.
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In 1988 with support of Nick Smith and under the guidance of Bruce Teakle, the team began building a beautiful mortise and tenon pole building called Bruce’s Shed. A cast of hundreds of friends came to help on weekends over the next 8 months to make it happen. During January of 1989 we moved in under a roof supported by poles, with walls and floor yet to be constructed.
As part of our application to Council we had approached the Queensland University of Technology’s Architecture Department to see if they would like to present their student’s with a semester long project of designing an environmental education centre. After 6 months of work and consultation third year student (and now friend and architect) Emma Scragg came up with the winning design that has been the guiding work for our construction at Wild Mountains.
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From 1993 –1998 new momentum was found resulting in the building of part-time staff accommodation known affectionately as Caddie’s Place. Caddie Bradley was a special and vibrant young woman who loved life and the environment. We first met her as a student at the Youth Earth Symposium program in which Wild Mountains was integrally involved. The Youth Earth Symposium ran for 6 years and gathered together from across the Gold Coast and Brisbane regions, volunteers who were passionate about providing a quality environmental education program for high school students. Each year some 100 students, self selected from over 30 high schools, took part in what was arguably the most powerful environmental education program in Australia… a life changing event for many. It was here that Wild Mountains met Caddie as a young participant. She then went on in the following years to volunteer at further YES camps as well as at Wild Mountains. Caddie was last seen by the Wild Mountains crew working on the building after which she was named and not long before she was sadly lost at sea following her passion.
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During this period, yet maintaining their support, Geoffrey and Kathryn left the mountain. Meanwhile Joan McVilly had joined as a permanent member of the team living and volunteering her efforts at Wild Mountains. With her assistance, the realisation of a not for profit organisation eventuated in April 1998 with the incorporation of Wild Mountains Trust using the legal expertise of Minter Elison’s Bill Thompson and Lachlan Davidson. In moving to a new structure Wild Mountains had many models to choose from. We eventually chose the advantages of a Trust run by a Company Limited by Guarantee. This provided for the perpetuation of the project beyond the lifetimes or involvement of the founding members, non-profit status (the public benefit seen as primary: far ahead of making money) and the involvement of a wider membership with the flexibility to make special provision for founding (and subsequent) residential members.
And the journey continues…
Where to next…?
Wild Mountains is a unique and magical place nestled in the border ranges in south-east Queensland.
With a focus of creating a space for environmental education and consciousness, the organisation is positioned well to lead a dynamic range of programs and events over the next four years, particularly at a time when climate action and behavoural change are critical.
The Wild Mountains facility has evolved and expanded as an eco-friendly venue that has been designed and constructed with best in sustainability principles in mind. The pandemic has created an opportunity for the Wild Mountains Board and residents to re-shape the future direction of the organisation and review existing operational processes and approach, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
The ability to deliver on the initiatives outlined in this strategic plan will undoubtably place Wild Mountains in a strong position to help create the climate champions of the future, and continue to offer environmental education for many years to come.
