About Us

"Victoria's oldest conservation club"

The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria (FNCV) was established in 1880 and is Victoria's oldest field naturalists club. A short history of the FNCV is written in a booklet titled:-

Leaves from our history
The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria
1880-2005
by
Sheila Houghton and Gary Presland
This booklet can be downloaded from here.

The purpose of the formation of the FNCV was to gain an understanding of our natural world, not by mere study of what others have written, but by going out into the natural environment and examining it for ourselves. The reason for the FNCV's long existence is because the need to understand our ever changing environment has always been there.
Early club members worked successfully for the reservation of Wilsons Promontory as a national park. The FNCV continues to thrive to this day. It is a very active club with close to 1000 members. There are nine special interest groups (SIGs), and a calendar of diverse events is devoted to the study of natural history.
Membership provides you with:-

• An opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others who have a passion for the natural environment.
• Monthly meetings with leading speakers in all areas of natural history.
• Regular excursions and field surveys
• Training and workshops
• Six issues of The Victorian Naturalist, our prestigious natural history journal (published since 1884).
• Our monthly newsletter Field Nats News, available electronically or in hard copy
• Access to our extensive natural history library (individual membership only)
• Significant discounts on natural history books from our bookshop.

Visitors are welcome to attend the activities, but should let the contact person on the calendar know of their intention. Please note a small fee may apply to non-members on some group activities (for insurance purposes).

From early in its history the FNCV has encouraged young people to have an interest in the natural environment. To do this the Juniors Group was formed and was designed specifically for children and teenagers and their families. This group aims to encourage an interest in our natural environment and its study among young people.