#WorldEnvironmentDay 5 June 2025

Binna Burra joins the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) in celebrating 50 years of conserving and protecting Queensland’s parks and forests under the Nature Conservation Act (1992).

The 1992 Act superceded the 1975 Queensland National Parks Act – officially called ‘An Act to provide for the appointment of a Director of National Parks and Wildlife and his powers, authorities, functions and duties and for matters incidental thereto.’

Five decades ago when Binna Burra Lodge had been in business for its first 40 years, the ‘Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Act of 1975’ established the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).  This provided a new legal framework for creating national parks and protecting wildlife. The 1992 Act builds upon this foundation, expanding the scope to include broader conservation of nature, including protected areas, native wildlife, and their habitats.

The story goes back to the late 1890’s when a former President of the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland and member of Parliament, Robert Martin Collins, led a campaign to legally protect the Mcpherson Ranges and other areas with significant natural resources. He has visited the USA and saw first-hand the world’s first national park. Declared in 1872, the Yellowstone National Park is mostly located in Wyoming, and also spreads into parts of Montana and Idaho.

In 1908 Collins succeeded in having Witches Falls at Tamborine Mountain  becoming Queensland’s first national park, followed by Bunya Mountains National Park in 1908, and Lamington National Park in 1915.

In 1911, Romeo Lahey, joined the campaign and continued the advocacy for the Lamington National Park after Collins’ death in 1913. In 1930 Lahey, Arthur Groom and many others formed the National Parks Association of Queensland and in 1933, both men led the development of what was to become Binna Burra Lodge (Incorporated in 1934). Since that time there has always been a close working relationship between Binna Burra and the various State Government Departments that have been responsible for national parks in Queensland.

‘Binna Burra values the work by QPWS for Woonoongoora (Lamington National Park) and all of Queensland’s protected areas and protected wildlife’ said Steve Noakes, Chair of the Board of Directors of Binna Burra Lodge Ltd who is also a long serving member of the Tourism and Protected Areas Specialists Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

‘Here at Binna Burra we are surrounded by a world heritage listed national park and around the world, such areas are the foundation of biodiversity conservation, safeguarding nature and rich cultural resources stretching back thousands of years when First Nations people lived in this area.’

Binna Burra Lodge has welcomed Lamington National Park (Woonoongoora) to the IUCN Green List, the only global standard that recognises protected and conserved areas for effectiveness in their governance and management and conservation outcomes.

About Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act (1992)

The Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Qld) (Nature Conservation Act) provides the framework for the creation and management of protected areas including national parks, conservation parks, resources reserves, nature refuges, coordinated conservation areas, wilderness areas, world heritage management areas, international agreement areas and protection of native species.

The Regulations under this Act provide detailed rules regulating activities in protected areas and a permit and licensing system for the taking or keeping of native wildlife. These regulations include the Nature Conservation (Protected Areas Management) Regulation 2017 (Qld) and the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 (Qld).

Nature conservation plans, such as the Nature Conservation (Dugong) Conservation Plan 1999 (Qld), regulate the conservation and harvesting of particular species or groups of protected wildlife.

LINKS:

• QPWS: A Totally Wild look at our history, and our future – features Rangers Stacey, Tim, and Donna 
• National Parks Association of Queensland.  For over nine decades, Binna Burra Lodge has had close relationship with the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ).  During the Great Depression days of the 1930s, they we founded by the same people.
• World Environment Day  https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/
• Queensland Environment Day https://www.facebook.com/qldenvday/