Our story

In 1983 the Franklin River became a household name across Australia when it was successfully protected from flooding under a hydro-electric dam.

Coming at the tail end of Tasmania’s massive hydro-electric expansion of the mid-20th century, and after the flooding of the spectacular Lake Pedder, the proposal to dam the Franklin prompted opposition across Australia and a new movement to protect nature.

The Wilderness Society as you know it today was formed in 1976 to save the Franklin.

In the early ’80s, archaeologists uncovered cultural artefacts at Kutikina Cave (formerly Fraser Cave; handed back to the First Nations community, the palawa, in 1995) in the Lower Franklin. The discovery at Kutikina Cave was one of the integral factors in getting World Heritage status and saving the river.

Read more about how pivotal World Heritage status was in winning the Franklin campaign

A belligerent Tasmanian Government pushed ahead with the dam, despite the Franklin being part of a World Heritage Area.

On the heels of an escalating community campaign including a blockade, rallies, door-knocking and widespread political action, the new opposition leader, Bob Hawke, voiced his support for the Franklin River. This secured his party a victory in the federal election.

A majority of everyday Australians had cast a vote for the environment.

Mr Hawke passed legislation to ensure the federal government had the legal power to prevent any action that would contravene Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention, such as a destructive dam.

As the Tasmanian Government was bulldozing ahead with construction, a court case between governments was held in the High Court. But in 1983, a final decision was handed down: “There shall be no dam on the Franklin River".

This vital ecosystem would remain intact. Construction of the dam was eventually ruled invalid and halted. The river was saved.

The Franklin’s headwaters are in the central highlands, and flow 125km west to the Gordon River, which then drains into Macquarie Harbour on the west coast. Dropping through thunderous rapids, deep gorges and thick rainforests, the river has become an icon for adventure and synonymous with Tasmania, wilderness and conservation.

To this day, our story of success continues.

• In 2012, we negotiated protection for over 500,000 hectares of native Tasmanian forest.
• In 2013, we helped protect the biodiversity and culture of the Kimberley from a gas export megahub.
• In 2016, our independent spill modelling sealed BP’s exit from the pristine Great Australian Bight.
• In 2018, we blew the lid off Queensland’s hidden deforestation crisis and improved the badly broken laws.
• In 2020, we got the third multinational oil company—Norway's Equinor—to drop their plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.
• In 2021, we successfully advocated for the creation of Australia’s largest national park: Munga-Thirri—Simpson Desert. It took over a decade of campaigning. At four times the size of Yellowstone in the US (or more than half the size of Tasmania), it’s considered an ‘intact wilderness’—one of only a few still in existence on our planet.
• In 2022, the third coal mine on the edge of Wollemi National Park was ruled out by the NSW Govt, after a tireless campaign from supporters and the local community. Working with local communities and our supporters, tens of thousands of people made submissions to stop coal mines in this unique landscape.

There’s never been a more important time for our movement.

The threats to our living world have already begun to impact the lives of everyday people. So we’re reaching out with a simple but powerful message:

“It’s time to support the life that supports us.”

From the corridors of power, to the front page of the paper, to the streets of your town, we use every available platform to give nature a voice at the negotiating table.

We have campaign centres in every state capital, plus Launceston and Newcastle. From these centres, our dedicated volunteers and skilled staff coordinate campaigns and unite local groups. Across Australia, our community organising program, Movement For Life, is training tomorrow’s environmental leaders.

Right now, everything is at stake: our clean air and water, the fertile soils that grow our food, global security, our great cities. All the good stuff. To win, we need you.

If you’re already a member… thank you.
If you’re thinking about joining… welcome.
If you’re a lobbyist for the fossil fuel industry… good luck.