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Practical conservation through outdoor education
Practical conservation through outdoor education Practical conservation through outdoor education
ABOUT WOLLANGARRA
What we do
Wollangarra is a small outdoor education centre situated beside the Macalister River in Gippsland. It is a unique and simple place showcasing pioneer-style, off-grid and sustainable living without phone reception and modern electronic commodities with access via a flying fox across the river. Wollangarra has been facilitating programs to get young people (aged 14-22) into the mountains since 1989 with the aim of connecting young people to themselves, community and nature resulting in more resilient young people, a stronger community and nature advocacy.
Wollangarra runs approximately thirty Stage I programs for both schools and holiday groups throughout the year, as well as several working bees and community events which are open to the public. Follow up Stage II and Stage III programs are available for those who wish to return to Wollangarra and become involved in a vibrant community and with our ongoing conservation programs.
For more information or questions about Wollangarra please get in contact with current Directors. For a good description of Wollangarra, how this amazing place was built and the ethos behind it all, try to get hold of a copy of the book "Second hand and Solid" written by the founder Ian Stapelton.
Founder - Ian Stapleton
Wollangarra was founded by Ian Stapleton. Ian spent most of his working life amongst the mountains and their people. In the early days of outdoor education in the 1960s and 70s, he led all sorts of school groups on hiking trips, working with Outward Bound before spending six years as the first full time Hike Master at Geelong Grammar’s Timbertop campus.
With a passion for making the mountains more accessible to all young people, Ian left Timbertop in 1980 to establish Mittagundi, a non-profit outdoor education centre based at Glen Valley on the Upper Mitta Mitta River. Once up and running, he set his sights on another property in Gippsland where he established his second centre, Wollangarra.
Today Ian and his wife Olivia now live in Harrietville, where he is putting together a series of books about the characters and pioneers of the mountains, many of whom were a large part of the inspiration behind his work with young people.
We chose wood fired stuff wherever we could, mainly to show kids used to pressing buttons, just how much energy was required for even simple living. A day working in the woodshed was a great exercise in ‘cause & effect.’ .
Ian Stapleton
Acknowledgement of Country
We respectfully acknowledge the Gunaikurnai and Bunurong People, and their Elders past and present, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which Wollangarra is located.
Accreditation and Networks
