Our History

The inaugural meeting at St Stephen’s Anglican Church Hall, Toodyay.

First picnic excursion to Bald Hill in the former Avon Valley Army Training Ground, Morangup, to lobby for the land to be reserved.

 Featuring Frank North’s colour films on WA birds.

Commenced a wildflower garden at the Toodyay Reservoir Hill Lookout.

Former Avon Valley Army Training Ground in the Morangup area was divided into a Flora and Fauna Reserve, National Park and Forestry Reserve.

Successful Shire and Club lobbying resulted in the three Morangup reserves above being declared A Class Reserves.

Issue of the Club’s first Newsletter, edited by Ray Paynter.

Right Hon. Ernest H Lee-Steere, Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, unveiled the plaque dedicating the Drummond Memorial at the Pelham Reserve Lookout.

Successfully lobbied for the Wongamine Timber Reserve to be upgraded to a Nature Reserve.

Suggested to the Shire that National Estate Grants Program funds are used partly on a biological survey of the Shire’s reserves.

Placed a memorial plaque to naturalist John Gilbert in the Drummond Memorial Garden at the Pelham Reserve Lookout.

Release of Keith Casperson’s work: Toodyay: a survey of major habitats within the Shire: study for Toodyay Shire Council. The club assisted the author.

The Club’s draft policy on the protection and control of roadside verges was adopted by the Shire, a State and possibly national first.

The Toodyay Shire adopted the Club’s recommendation of the Raspberry Jam Tree (Acacia acuminata) as the Shire’s floral emblem.

Pioneers’ Arboretum opened on Hamersley Street, on land leased by the Shire from Westrail. Club’s WAY ’79 Project.

Launch of first book: Natural history of Toodyay. Dedicated to Albie North, inaugural President.

Completed survey of all road verges within the Shire, with survey notes and maps given to the Shire.

Successful public campaign to prevent the development of the catchment of the Beelaring and Goonaring Springs A Class Nature Reserves, now the Morangup Nature Reserve.

Public launch of draft management plans for all Toodyay Shire reserves, prepared by the Dept. of Fisheries & Wildlife, with much support from the Club.

Club records destroyed in a house fire at Glen Avon, the Masters’ property.

Commenced an occasional one-page Newsletter to members, written by Secretary Pam Masters

Adopted the Raspberry Jam Tree (Acacia acuminata) as the Club’s emblem and letterhead.

Botanical walk through Morangup Nature Reserve in the footsteps of James Drummond, as part of Toodyay’s 150th Pioneer Trek.

Launch of second book: The Avon Valley: the naturalists’ view, edited by Maxine Walker. Sponsored by the Shires of Toodyay and Northam, Town of Northam and the York Society.

Successfully lobbied CALM to extend the Wongamine Nature Reserve.

Completed the Club’s Constitution.

Opened the second stage of the Pioneers’ Arboretum, a Bicentennial Project.

Incorporation of the Club, with name: ‘Toodyay Naturalists’ Club Incorporated’.

Awarded a certificate for Greening Australia (WA)’s John Tonkin Tree Award. Nominated by the Shire.

Club member Ray Paynter awarded the Greening Australia (WA) John Tonkin Greening Award for Individual Endeavour. Nominated by the Club.

Participated in annual Rare (and later Endangered) Flora Surveys for CALM in the Wongan Hills (1991-1993, 1999-2001)

Fenced a Eucalyptus macrocarpa stand on Arthur North’s property, Toodyay, funded by a Gordon Reid Foundation grant.

Published the pamphlet Common trees of Toodyay (with assistance from the Toodyay Land Conservation District Committee).

Tabled and distributed the policy The protection of wild-life of the Avon River: within the Shires of Toodyay, Northam, York, Beverley and Town of Northam: policy statement, Toodyay Naturalists’ Club, prepared by Jim Masters

Launch of third book: The Pioneers’ Arboretum. Funded by a grant from the State Minister for Environment.

Dr Stephen Hopper (Director, Kings Park and Botanic Garden) unveiled a plaque at the fenced E. macrocarpa stand on Arthur North’s property, Toodyay.

Received a Greening Western Australia equipment grant to start a Regional Herbarium.

Conducted a biological survey of the Avon Valley National Park, for CALM.

Conducted an annual winter Avon River Waterbird Survey for the Avon River Management Authority (ARMA), organised by Jim Masters, to study effects of the Avon Descent.

Received a Community Conservation Grant ($1550) from the Minister for the Environment to purchase equipment for the Project: Botanical survey and inventory, Avon Valley National Park and reserves.

Awarded the Bushland Conservation Award and was a finalist in the Community Group Award of Greening Western Australia’s John Tonkin Greening Awards, nominated by Max Trenorden MLA. Wayne Clarke was an Individual Endeavour Award finalist.

Awarded the Accredited River Manager Gold Award by ARMA.

Celebrated the 30th Anniversary at a Stirling House Restaurant luncheon, Toodyay.

Toodyay Understorey Seed Orchard Group joined the Club as a subgroup.

Club meeting records for 1984-2003 deposited for safe-keeping in the JS Battye Library of West Australian History, State Library of Western Australia.

Awarded Shire of Toodyay’s Australia Day – Community Organization of the Year Award.

Received a Commonwealth Envirofund grant ($5,536) for the Seed Orchard Group to undertake grassland restoration and seed orchard establishment, Lloyd Reserve.

Received a Commonwealth Envirofund grant ($2,080) for the Seed Orchard Group to undertake further grassland restoration and signage, Lloyd Reserve.

Presented the Drummond Symposium: a review of the work of James Drummond, Toodyay. Organised by Prof. Stephen Davies, Ray Paynter et al.

Received a Lotterywest grant ($3,350) to erect a shed for the Toodyay Seed Orchard Group.

Presented with a Certificate of Excellence, by Ribbons of Blue / Waterwatch WA, for involvement in Macro-invertebrate Snapshots.

Toodyay Understorey Seed Orchard Group (sub-group of the Club) transferred to the Toodyay Friends of the River.

Proceedings of The Drummond Symposium were published by the Curtin University of Technology, copyright held by the Club. Edited by SJJF (Stephen) Davies.

Issued a new newsletter, TNC news. Produced by President Greg Warburton.

Celebrated the 40th Anniversary with a day of events at the Avalon Homestead and other significant places, Toodyay.

Issued a new print and e-newsletter: TNC Newsletter, edited by the Clarkes.

Launched our fourth book: The Toodyay Naturalists’ Club: 40 years of Observation and Education (1968-2008).

A new Club logo was launched, featuring the Chuditch and Grevillea flexuosa.

Toodyay Reserve 5273 revitalised and renamed the Dawn Atwell Reserve, through the lobbying and assistance of TNC and WWF.

Commenced the development of an independent TNC website, included online recording of sightings; funded by the Toodyay Bendigo Bank.

Represented on the inaugural Toodyay Tidy Towns Committee

Opening of the John Masters Bird Hide on the new Bilya Walk Track, along the Avon River. Funded by Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management.