Our mission, vision and engagement model

Edendale is a Community Environment Farm and Climate Action Hub set on six hectares of land next to the Diamond Creek in Eltham.

Edendale has been a Council facility since 1970 when it was purchased by the Shire of Eltham. After a number of incarnations, including as the shire’s pound, Edendale Farm was established as a community farm in 1986. Edendale became a centre for environmental education in 2000 and in 2023 started to develop the Nillumbik Environment and Climate Action Hub (known as NECAH).

Along with our animals, indigenous plant nursery, school environmental education program, events and workshops, Edendale now plays an important role as a hub for the local community to learn and share ideas about sustainable living, caring for nature and climate action.

Our mission

To provide an interactive community and education centre to support sustainable living practices for the whole community.

Our vision

Edendale is enhancing awareness of environmental sustainability through learning, and is a place for:

lifelong learning about environmental issues, including demonstration of local solutions to global environmental challenges
drawing people from Nillumbik and beyond
celebrating the richness of the Nillumbik environment and culture
vibrant and inspiring community activity.

Our engagement model

Our engagement model of Connecting, Learning, Leading helps us focus our services, resources and communications to support our community and deliver on Council’s plans and objectives:

connecting with nature, community, culture and place
lifelong environmental learning
leading by example

Contact the host of Sensory-friendly storytime and meet the animals