This is a list of Australia's field naturalist clubs. These natural history and conservation societies are dedicated to the study, appreciation and conservation of the natural environment in their local regions. Australia has a long field naturalist club history, with the earliest club, the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, being founded in 1880.Gary Presland (2016) Understanding our natural world: the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria 1880-2015. Melbourne: Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
Australian Capital Territory NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesField Naturalists Association of Canberra1981CanberraProduces and publishes the naturalist newsletter, The Field Natter, since 1989.Club website
New South Wales NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesGoulburn Field Naturalists Society1965GoulburnActively participates in local conservation projects in the Goulburn area. The club has published the Birds of Goulburn & District, which covers all rare and uncommon species of birds native to the area.Club websiteAlbury-Wodonga Field Naturalists Club1965Albury-WodongaClub hosts monthly meetings and field trips in and around the Albury-Wodonga area. Works closely and is hosted by the Friends of Chiltern Mt Pilot National Park.Club websiteBarrier Field Naturalists Club1920Broken HillClub hosts monthly meetings and field trips in and around the Broken Hill area. The club was co-founded by acclaimed botanist Albert Morris, and in 2021 celebrated its centenary with the Broken Hill Historical Society and the Albert Kersten Mining and Mineral Museum.Dubbo Field Naturalist & Conservation Society1977DubboHosts monthly meetings and field trips in the Dubbo area. This has included self-guided bush walks and ecological revitalisation activities along the Macquarie-Wambul River.Club websiteMurrumbidgee Field Naturalists1994Nerranda, Griffith and Wagga WaggaOriginally based in Nerranda, but has expanded to include branches in Griffith and Wagga Wagga. The club's conservation work covers their local area, primarily focusing on the Murrumbidgee River Valley. They are a member of the Murrumbidgee Environmental Water Advisory Group, working with Curtin University to monitor the biodiversity of the Gayini wetlands. They have received community grants to continue this work by Griffith City Council.Club websiteOrange Field Naturalist & Conservation Society1974OrangeHosts monthly meetings and field trips in the Orange area, and continues to produce field guides for native orchids.Club website
Northern Territory NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesAlice Springs Field Naturalists ClubAlice SpringsPublishes the Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club Newsletter.Club website
Queensland NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesQueensland Naturalists Club1906West EndThe club can trace its history back to 1859, as a subsidiary of the Queensland Philosophical Society, however its inaugural meeting was held in 1906. It was originally called the Queensland Field Naturalists Club, changing to its current name in 1922. The club is the largest naturalist group in the state and acts as a parent organisation to the regional clubs across Queensland.Club websiteChinchilla Field Naturalists Club1967ChinchillaHas published a compendium of observations titled Going bush with Chinchilla Nats: thirty years of field observations (1997).Club webpageSouth Burnett Field Naturalists ClubMurgonClub information webpageTamborine Mountain Natural History AssociationTamborinePublished A Natural history of Tamborine Mountain (1988) by Joy Guyatt. The club funded a plaque commemorating Ian Stuart MacDonald, and field naturalist and founder of the club.Stanthorpe Field Naturalist Club1969StanthorpePublishes a monthly newsletter since 1969.Club websiteToowoomba Field Naturalists1951ToowoombaPublished Flora, Fauna and Fellowship 70 Years of the Toowoomba Field Naturalist Club (2021) by Francis Mangubhai with Diane Pagel and Glenda Walter, as well as a field guide on frogs in the Toowoomba area.Club website
South Australia NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesField Naturalists Society of South Australia1883AdelaideFounded in 1883 as a section of the Royal Society of South Australia, inspired by the success of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria three years earlier. Originally called the 'Field Naturalists' Section of the Royal Society of South Australia', the club was incorporated in 1959. The club has published The South Australian Naturalist since 1919.Club website The South Australian NaturalistKangaroo Island Flora & Fauna ClubKangaroo IslandPublished the Native orchids of Kangaroo Island: a field guide (2017).Club webpageRiverland Field NaturalistsRiverlandIn 1986 the club established the Littra House Memorial on Lake Littra, stabilising the buildings' ruins through funding from State Government.Club website
Tasmania
NameYear foundedLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesTasmanian Field Naturalists Club1904HobartThe first club of its kind to be founded in Tasmania, it has played a critical role in guiding and enabling amateur and professional research and conservation work for Tasmania's flora and fauna. The club serves as a parent organisation to the various regional field naturalist groups in the state. The club has produced Easter Camp Reports since 1905, as well as an annual research journal, The Tasmanian Naturalist and a monthly Club Bulletin since 1907. They also publish extensive field guides of Tasmanian flora and fauna.Club website Tasmanian Naturalist Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club Bulletin Tasmanian Field Naturalists' Club Easter Camp ReportsNorth East Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club1972BridportUndertakes excursions and studies of Tasmania's natural wildlife on the North-East Region of Tasmania.Club websiteLaunceston Field Naturalists ClubLauncestonRuns monthly meetings, excursions and camps. The club owns 60 hectares of native bushland at Myrtle Bank where it undertakes observation and conservation activities.Club websiteBurnie Field Naturalists ClubBurnieRuns field trips, outings and social gatherings around the Burnie area.Club webpageKing Island Field Naturalists ClubKing Island North HobartClub webpageCentral North Field Naturalists (Disjunct Naturalists)LauncestonFocused on the Central North Tasmanian bioregion, but retains members from all over Australia, and further afield. The club produces The Natural News newsletter that discusses club activities, articles from club members and current naturalist news topics. The club made a submission to the review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, proposing changes to the Act in the interest of native flora and fauna.
Victoria NameYearLocationNotesOfficial WebpagesField Naturalists Club of Victoria1880BlackburnOldest still running field naturalist club in Australia, being founded in 1880. The club has published a journal, The Victorian Naturalist bimonthly since 1884. The club is situated in Blackburn, in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. The club serves as a parent organisation to many field naturalist clubs across Victoria, hosting yearly events, assisting in conservation efforts and acting as a leading body for the movement in the state. The club has been awarding the Australian Natural History Medallion to individuals who have made the most meritorious contribution to Australian Natural History, since 1940.Sheila Houghton (1987) The Australian Natural History Medallion Melbourne: Field Naturalists Club of VictoriaClub website The Victorian NaturalistBallarat Field Club and Science Society (defunct)1882-1918BallaratPredecessor of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat, which now maintains the club's archives. It was the second founded field naturalist club in Victoria, behind the state club.Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat1952BallaratFounded as a continuation of the Ballarat Field Club and Science Society (1882-1918), acting as a repository for the society's records. The club hosts face-to-face meetings, excursions, camps and conservation activities throughout the year. The club has also published the monthly Ballarat Naturalist since 1974.Club website The Ballarat NaturalistBendigo Field Naturalists Club1945BendigoHas published the monthly field naturalist magazine, The Whirrakee since 1979. The club has also previously published The Bendigo Naturalist from 10 September 1945 to the early 1950's.Club websiteCastlemaine Field Naturalists Club1976CastlemaineAlongside regular meetings and excursions, the club organises vegetation and bird surveys, as well as weed control and roadside clean up days in the local region. The club has published the monthly newsletter the Castlemaine Naturalist since 1976.Club website The Castlemaine NaturalistGeelong Field Naturalists Club (defunct)1880-1932GeelongPublished The Wombat: Journal of the Geelong Field Naturalists' Club from 1895-1902, as well as its successor, The Geelong Naturalist: The Journal of the Geelong Field Naturalists' Club until 1931.The Wombat The Geelong NaturalistGeelong Field Naturalists Club1961GeelongAlongside regular meetings, excursion and camps, the club publishes the quarterly Geelong Naturalist: journal of the Geelong Field Naturalists Club. The club has no official ties to its predecessor.Club Website Geelong naturalistPeninsula Field Naturalists' Club1952Frankston and Mornington PeninsulaFounded as a junior group of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, by members of the parent organisation. Has undertaken extensive observations The club has published the Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club Newsletter on a quarterly basis since 2011. The club's emblem is the rabbit's ears orchid (Thelymitra antennifera).Club website Peninsula Field Naturalists' Club NewsletterPortland Field Naturalists Club1945PortlandHosts monthly meetings and excursions around the local area, including Mount Richmond National Park, Lower Glenelg National Park and Cobboboonee National Parks. They publish a monthly newsletter that discusses recent excursions and observations. The club has published the Portland Field Naturalists Club Newsletter since 1968 and the Birds of the Portland District (2007 and 2019).Club webpage