Melbourne Bushwalkers has enjoyed accessible CBD locations for over 75 years. It continues to offer over 400 members and several hundred visitors annually a diverse program of outdoors activities, including its unique Sunday Bus Walks, throughout Victoria and beyond. The club meets every Wednesday night.

Descending Eskdale Spur on Mt Bogong, Victoria.Ian Mair

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Peaks Trail day walk, Grampians National ParkIan Mair

Melbourne Bushwalkers embodies the spirits of adventure, inclusiveness and fun. Forged from a vision of hope amongst those escaping the ravages of war-torn Europe, it continues to welcome walkers of all backgrounds. Arguably it was the first mixed-gender club in Victoria, commencing in April 1940, with only YHA Bushwalking also offering shared walking experiences. From its convenient CBD location the club draws its membership from across Victoria and beyond. MBW is a vibrant club with over 400 members exploring and engaging with the outdoors wherever their imagination leads them.

Melbourne Bushwalkers believes in spreading the word about the joys of bushwalking irrespective of how or where it is embraced. Most club activities are open to visitors, whilst information on the club’s programs and activity details are readily accessed through its website and Facebook presences. So too are helpful tips on how to prepare for a safe and memorable adventure.

The spirit of sharing extends to being an active participant in Bushwalking Victoria, the peak body for Bushwalking in Victoria, a foundation member of the Victorian National Parks Association and a collaborator with other Victorian Clubs on joint activities.

Whilst advances in communications technologies have transformed the landscape of social structures through the emergence of organisations like MeetUp, Facebook and many others, more traditional clubs like Melbourne Bushwalkers continue to evolve and prosper by embracing the new where it fits. No single framework meets the preferences of all bushwalkers, now or into the future.

In the early years Melbourne Bushwalkers faced different challenges not paralleled today. Convenient access to bushwalking

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Razorback day walk, Cathedral Range.Ian Mair

venues required a bold solution that has become a tradition. In the past there was a converted furniture van; today we have an air-conditioned coach that moves members in comfort on popular Sunday walks. Gone are the days of helping to dislodge a bogged van on a remote country road, or enduring bone-rattling rides on hard wooden benches, but the camaraderie developed has seeped deep into the club’s DNA. New members are embraced for their shared passion for bushwalking and preparedness to shoulder

the load to help each other, irrespective of the activity type or transport mode.

An active activities program caters for all skill levels and ages. Training and mentor programs in navigation, first aid, leadership and basic backpacking equipment selection and use enhance the competence and confidence of members to take on new adventures and challenges. We have a wide selection of equipment for hire: tents, packs, GPSs, PLBs, and other hiking gear, easing the barriers to trying something new. With more than three activities a week on average, there is plenty of scope for involvement, whether you are under 35 or over 70, or anywhere in between. Gender balance has moved from around 38% female in 1980 to closer to 60% today.

Day walks across the week, longer weekend walks and extended ventures encompassing longer distance routes, blend with other

Pushing the furniture van on a Sunday walk, 1963Barry Short

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