Wilderness Collective
- Project: Micro-Village Pods
- Amount: $50,000 over one year
- Year(s) Funded: 2025
Micro-Village Pods
Boosting Mallacoota’s economic sustainability and social connections
Wilderness Collective is a community-led social enterprise focused on facilitating long-term sustainability and community growth in far east Gippsland. Founded in Mallacoota after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires, the Wilderness Collective emerged from the vision and dedication of five women. The organisation empowers residents to work locally, launch small businesses, and acquire essential skills. The intergenerational approach to idea development fosters a vibrant and inclusive future for Mallacoota.
Our work fosters a collaborative community-driven environment, where knowledge sharing and enterprise development go hand in hand, building Mallacoota’s economic viability well beyond the tourism season.
Paris Brooke, Executive Officer
”The Micro-Village directly addresses the challenges faced by small business owners in regional towns, such as high rents, limited retail options, and inflexible lease terms. Located in the heart of Mallacoota, pods in the Micro-Village provide adaptable, affordable commercial spaces that encourage year-round economic activity and strengthen social connections.
With support from Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, the Micro- Village can be further developed with two additional pods. This builds on the Trust’s ongoing support for the Mallacoota community and helps to foster locally owned assets. The project will deliver enduring economic and social benefits through a community-led, sustainable development model.
Learn more about the collective’s initiatives in Mallacoota at wildernesscollective.org.au