Perched above one of Sydney’s most scenic bays, the Gordons Bay Bushcare group has spent decades transforming what was once a weed-choked hillside into a thriving pocket of coastal heath — and they welcome new volunteers every month.
The group holds the distinction of being the longest-running bushcare group in the Randwick area, a record built on steady, unglamorous work by local residents who keep turning up month after month.
Helping restore coastal bushland
Sessions focus on maintenance weeding and revegetation with indigenous plants, the two tasks that keep a coastal heath reserve healthy over time. The work is hands-on but sociable, and the views over Gordons Bay make it one of the more scenic volunteer gigs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The program suits people of all fitness levels, with tasks adapted as needed, and the Gordons Bay site is one of several identified as accessible for people with reduced mobility or families with young children.
No experience, no booking needed
First-timers are welcome and no prior experience is required; however, volunteers are requested to contact the Bushcare Officer ahead of time to confirm details. It helps to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early on a first visit to catch the site induction.
The group meets on the first Friday of every month at the UNSW Cliffbrook Campus, 45 Beach Street, Coogee. Sessions run for three hours (9 am – 12 pm), though volunteers are welcome to come and go as suits them.
Protecting local biodiversity
Gordons Bay’s coastal heath reserve represents an important pocket of indigenous vegetation, with volunteers undertaking maintenance weeding and revegetation with indigenous plants to protect and extend the reserve over time.
The broader Randwick bushcare network has run continuously since 1993, with 15 active groups now working across the city’s bushland reserves each month. Volunteers identify flora and fauna, remove invasive species and replant with native plants, building both biodiversity and ecological knowledge of the area.
Get involved
To find out the next session date or ask whether the site suits your needs, contact the Bushcare Officer at bushcare@randwick.nsw.gov.au or call 02 9093 6708. The full schedule is available via the Bushcare calendar.
Published 6-July-2026
