{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{More citations needed|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox organization | name = David G. Stead Memorial Wildlife Research Foundation of Australia | pronunciation = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | named_after = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | map = | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | successor = | formation = <!-- use {{start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | founder = Thistle Yolette Stead | founding_location = | extinction = <!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = | type = NGO | tax_id = <!-- or | vat_id = (for European organizations) --> | registration_id = <!-- for non-profit org --> | status = | purpose = Conservation and environmental advocacy and education | headquarters = | location = | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline, title}} --> | region_served = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | num_members = | num_members_year = | language = | owner = <!-- or | owners = --> | secretary_general = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = David George Stead | main_organ = | parent_organization = | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> | remarks = | former_name = | footnotes = }} The '''David G. Stead Memorial Wildlife Research Foundation of Australia''' (or '''Stead Wildlife Foundation''' or '''Stead Foundation''') is an Australian non-profit organisation that aims to promote conservation and environment advocacy and education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://steadfoundation.net/|title=Learn, enjoy, engage and protect - Australian native wild life - David G Stead Memorial Wild Life Research Foundation of Australia|work=steadfoundation.net|accessdate=21 March 2017}}</ref> Established in 1963 as a memorial to David George Stead, a pioneer conservationist and marine biologist throughout the early 20th century,<ref name=adb>{{cite web |author=Walsh, G. P. |year=1990 |format=First published in hardcopy by Melbourne University Press |title=Stead, David George (1877–1957) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |volume=Volume 12 |pages=57–58 |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stead-david-george-8634/text15087 |access-date=6 October 2018 }}</ref> the Stead Foundation is a project-based organisation. Its inaugural and most enduring project was the establishment of the Wirrimbirra Sanctuary, gifted to the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wirrimbirra.com.au|title=Welcome to Wirrimbirra Sanctuary - www.wirrimbirra.com.au|work=wirrimbirra.com.au|accessdate=21 March 2017}}</ref>
The Foundation boasts a list of leading conservationists as supporters and board members. The Stead Foundation receives no recurrent government funding and relies on grants, donations and bequests.
==Wirrimbirra Sanctuary== {{main|Wirrimbirra Sanctuary}} Wirrimbirra Sanctuary is a property of the National Trust of Australia (New South Wales), established in Macarthur, New South Wales and managed as a wildlife refuge by the Stead Foundation. Created in the 1960s by Thistle Stead to preserve the native 'Bargo Brush', a thick dense brushland covering the Bargo Plateau. It was a haven for escaped convicts during early settlement and a hazard for travellers heading towards the rich grazing grounds of the Southern Highlands, and promote education and propagation of Australian native plants, Wirrimbirra operates as a flora and fauna reserve, native plant nursery, education and research centre, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.<ref name=nswshr-1508>{{cite NSW SHR|5051261|Wirrimbirra Sanctuary|hr=01508|fn=EF14/5872; S90/7308/001|accessdate=2 June 2018}}</ref>
Wirrimbirra has about {{convert|95|ha}} of preserved native bush and gardens. Wandering the paths of the sanctuary, including the Fauna Protection Area, for encounters with endangered species and plants from around Australia. You will also see wallabies, kangaroos, emus and maybe echidnas, possums, a wide variety of birds and other native animals in natural habitats. The sanctuary has walking trails, an environmental studies centre, visitors centre, native plant nursery and picnic areas. The environmental studies centre (known as a field studies centre at the time of creation) was established with the support of the Gould League who helped raise funds for the first classroom on the site.
==See also== {{portal|Environment}} *Bush Heritage Australia *National Trust of Australia *Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Conservation and environmental foundations}}
Category:Wildlife conservation organizations Category:1963 establishments in Australia Category:Conservation and environmental foundations in Australia Category:Environmental organizations established in 1963