The Gippsland Community Foundation is proud to co-fund the purchase of 56 Maurice Avenue, Mallacoota, utilising the East Gippsland Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund, contributing $20,000 towards this vital community project led by The Wilderness Collective.
The Community Bank Mallacoota has matched this $20,000 contribution as part of its annual sponsorship program.
The Community Enterprise Foundation (charitable arm of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank) stepped in to match the combined funding by contributing a further $40,000 to the community-led project.
The Wilderness Collective has worked tirelessly towards securing this property as an Innovation, Creativity, and Employment Hub, ensuring long-term community benefits for Mallacoota and its surrounding areas.
“From the outset, we knew this was more than just a building – it’s about investing in people, ideas, and a future where Mallacoota flourishes year-round,” executive officer and co-founder of the Wilderness Collective, Paris Brooke said.
“This space will be a catalyst for creativity, opportunity, and enterprise, empowering locals to test and build livelihoods.”
The Wilderness Collective is a community-driven initiative dedicated to cultivating innovation, sustainability, and economic resilience in Mallacoota and the surrounding region. Formed in response to the Black Summer Fires of 2019/2020, the collective has worked to create opportunities for local businesses, entrepreneurs, students and job seekers by providing a collaborative space for social enterprises, work, learning and community connection.
For young people and students, the absence of study and professional development spaces means they often have to leave the region to access education and employment opportunities.
This new Innovation, Creativity, and Employment Hub will help address these challenges by providing a central, affordable and collaborative space where businesses can thrive, skills can be shared and job opportunities can grow.
“We are incredibly proud to support The Wilderness Collective in securing this long-term resource for the Mallacoota community,” said Michelle Dowsett, executive officer of the Gippsland Community Foundation.
“Projects like these build resilience, strengthen local economies, and ensure our region has the infrastructure needed to support social enterprises, students, job seekers, and the community into the future.”
This initiative directly supports bushfire recovery, economic resilience, and capacity building—all key pillars of the Gippsland Community Foundation’s mission as they continue to distribute Victorian Bushfire Appeal funds to community-led projects.
“The bank is dedicated to making a meaningful contribution to the Mallacoota community,” Community Bank Mallacoota chairman, Andrew Roberts said.
“In this case, Community Bank Mallacoota believes the sponsorship provided will allow the Wilderness Collective to continue its work creating lasting opportunities for our local community.”
For further information about The Wilderness Collective and its mission, visit The Wilderness Collective website.
