About Us

Photo: Peter Barnes

We promote the ecological regeneration and good health of the natural environment and defend legislative protection of agriculture and open space areas

Willunga Basin

Willunga Basin is a region of rural and coastal beauty and boutique tourist appeal, unequalled in its close proximity to a major city (40km).  Bounded by the curving of the Adelaide Hills to the coast at Sellicks Beach to the south and the Onkaparinga River to the north, the Basin holds the crown jewel wineries of the McLaren Vale Wine Region, and spectacular pristine beaches from Moana to Sellicks. Urban sprawl has been restricted by locking existing town boundaries through legislation, unique in Australia.

Strong and vibrant communities are found in the towns of historic Willunga, the wine hub of McLaren Vale, the intimate, history-rich bay of Port Willunga, the spectacular sanctuary reef at Aldinga, and the remarkable pebble banks at Sellicks Beach.

The  natural and enhanced advantages of the Basin for its rural industries are seen in the cooling sea breezes for nearby vineyards, the complex and uniquely-mapped “terroir “ belying the vineyard soils, the radical vineyard sustainability programs and recycled water innovations.

The best of local produce can be found at the pioneering and award-winning Willunga Farmers Market.

Friends of Willunga Basin Inc

The Friends of Willunga Basin became an incorporated, not for profit, community-based group in 1994.

Friends of Willunga Basin aims to:

  • promote and work for the retention of the natural character, rural landscapes, bicultural and heritage assets of the Willunga Basin

  • advocate for actions by governments and individuals which mitigate against and adapt to climate change

  • promote the ecological regeneration and good health of the natural environment

  • defend legislative protection of agriculture and open space areas

  • facilitate socially and environmentally responsible planning and development.

Friends of Willunga Basin hold an Annual General Meeting and the committee elected at the AGM meets on a more regular basis throughout the year.

Current Committee

  • Geoff Hayter

    CHAIR

    Geoff Hayter is a grape grower, practicing environmentalist and sometimes radio presenter, all activities designed to back-fill his former career as a property consultant. He lives on a regenerated creek near Willunga.

    Geoff is the current chair of Friends of Willunga Basin. Within FOWB, he maintains a particular interest in the Aldinga Conservation Park, and in all nature of planning matters as they affect the Willunga Basin. Alongside this role, he is also chair of Biodiversity McLaren Vale, a group spawned by FOWB.

  • Rob Bickford

    TREASURER

    Rob Bickford has worked, extensively, in technical and scientific libraries, including forestry, architecture and building, and earth sciences: heritage conservation in its widest sense has been an abiding theme.

    As Treasurer for FOWB, he is pleased to be part of a team that has had significant and effective  influence on the development and conservation issues of our region, and the serious challenges ahead of global heating. 

    He has particular interests in the SA Conservation Council and Transport Action Network.

  • Gina Kellett

    SECRETARY

    Gina has lived in Willunga for 40 years and has always been involved with various environmental and social justice issues.

    She has been a long-time supporter/ activist of the Aldinga Scrub Conservation Park and Washpool Lagoon.

    In her recent retirement from Chiropractic she is an active member of the Willunga Basin Trail and is developing her interest in identification, propagation and preservation of native vegetation.

    She is particularly interested in the Conservation Council’s Urban Tree Canopy Campaign.

  • Christine James

    Christine James, a resident of Port Willunga for the past 19 years, is concerned about the impact that climate change and population growth is having along the coast. She supports the restoration and conservation of the native vegetation, the few remaining dune systems and creek estuaries.

    She was actively involved in building and maintaining the Willunga Basin Trail, (130km walking trail) and continues to campaign for more safe walking and cycling options for everyone, whether for recreation or commuting between towns and suburbs.

    She is particularly interested in the Port Willunga North Coast Park, the Transport Action Network and safe crossings for cyclists and pedestrians across Main South Road.

  • Gabriella Smart

    Gabriella Smart is committed to being a watchdog for the heritage and environment of the Aldinga Beach and Sellicks Beach areas (including the Aldinga Conservation Park and the Washpool), focusing on sustainable housing and heritage endemic trees.

    A Champion of contemporary music and founder and artistic director of Soundstream New Music, pianist Gabriella Smart is a leading advocate of new music in Australia through performance, improvisation, composition and curation. She regularly gives performances in the Willunga Basin, focusing on site specific music making and composition that highlights the unique ecological systems of the Fleurieu Peninsula.

    She is a Churchill Fellow and received a Helpmann Award in 2009. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Australia Council Residency in Paris, and an Arts SA Fellowship. 

  • David Gill

    David Gill is a founding member of FOWB. As an office bearer over 27 years, mainly as secretary and chair, David has set the agenda and worked collaboratively towards meeting FOWB's aims.

    Containment of urban sprawl and protection of agricultural land are significant earlier achievements manifested in the Character Preservation McLaren Vale 2012 Act.

    As a key contact person David has been involved in every aspect of FOWB's activities. However, climate change and making development more sustainable are David's particular interests.

  • Bridget Gardiner

    Bridget Gardiner has lived in Aldinga Beach for 23 years and is passionate about protecting the beautiful natural environment of the area. Of particular interest is the connection of the range to reef with a focus on the foreshore connection to the Aldinga Washpool Karuna Heritage Conservation Zone and the Aldinga Scrub.

  • Yvonne Wenham

    Yvonne is the FOWB representative for the Community Alliance SA and is particularly interested in all matters relating to water allocation and assets across the Basin.

  • Tom Gara

    Tom Gara, an historian, has only become a resident of the area recently, but has been involved in archaeological surveys on the southern Fleurieu since the 1980s and has worked with Kaurna people on a range of historical research and heritage projects. He has also worked with Kokatha, Wirangu and Maralinga Tjarutja people in the far west of the state.

    Since the 1990s he has specialised in native title research, first for the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (1993-1999) and then for the SA Crown Solicitor’s Office (2010-2021). He has published several papers about Kaurna history and others on the Aboriginal history of Eyre Peninsula, the Nullarbor Plain and the Great Victoria Desert. He is an Honorary Research Associate at the South Australian Museum and a member of the Friends of the Aldinga Scrub.

    Tom is interested in early settler history and environmental history and is concerned about the impact of infrastructure, commercial and residential development on the natural and cultural heritage of the Willunga area.