In an innovative move at the time the Commission established a specialised Forest Environment and Recreation (FEAR) branch in the early 1970s to focus on community education, the environment, conservation and recreation.
This included engaging overseas landscape architects which was believed to be an Australian first.
Other State Forest agency's soon followed suite with similar models.


Providing for forest recreation became a significant focus for the Commission from the late 1960s onwards, although it had first developed a substantial interest in recreation with the development of Mt Buller as a ski field from the early 1940s.
The Commission also pursued alpine resort and snow play development at Mt Baw Baw, Mt Donna Buang and Lake Mountain near Marysville with vigour.
The challenge of establishing roads, communications, water and sewerage, accommodation and other services in a remote location was well suited to the Commission's experience and skills.

Whereas, ornamental gardens, arboretums, a golf course at Olinda and picnic grounds were developed in the Dandenong Ranges and elsewhere.
The Commission was also active in providing access for orienteering, car rallying and developing the long-distance Alpine Walking Track.

In addition to many smaller recreation sites, walking tracks and picnic grounds on State forest the Commission ran major forest parks at Sherbrooke, You Yangs, Macedon, Grampians and the Lerderderg Gorge.
Eventually, many of these areas were transferred in various reviews by the Land Conservation Council (LCC) to be managed either by the Victorian National Park Service (now Parks Victoria) or the Victorian Alpine Resorts Commission (ARC).

During the remaining years of the Commission, it steadily broadened its focus on non-timber aspects of forest management, strongly promoting recreation, tourism, flora and fauna conservation, water catchment protection, farm forestry, biological research, community education (including the construction of a dedicated pavilion at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds), production of what was to become a popular series of forest display posters and the management of the landscape impacts of forestry.

World Forestry Day was proclaimed in 1971 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.
It was set down for 21 March each year to coincide with the vernal equinox or the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere.
For many years the Commission's staff celebrated the occasion by staging various community events.
In an innovative move at the time the Commission established a specialised Forest Environment and Recreation (FEAR) branch in the early 1970s to focus on community education, the environment, conservation and recreation. This included engaging overseas landscape architects which was believed to be an Australian first. Other State Forest agency's soon followed suite with similar models. 

Providing for forest recreation became a significant focus for the Commission from the late 1960s onwards, although it had first developed a substantial interest in recreation with the development of Mt Buller as a ski field from the early 1940s. The Commission also pursued alpine resort and snow play development at Mt Baw Baw, Mt Donna Buang and Lake Mountain near Marysville with vigour. The challenge of establishing roads, communications, water and sewerage, accommodation and other services in a remote location was well suited to the Commission's experience and skills.
Whereas, ornamental gardens, arboretums, a golf course at Olinda and picnic grounds were developed in the Dandenong Ranges and elsewhere. The Commission was also active in providing access for orienteering, car rallying and developing the long-distance Alpine Walking Track.
In addition to many smaller recreation sites, walking tracks and picnic grounds on State forest the Commission ran major forest parks at Sherbrooke, You Yangs, Macedon, Grampians and the Lerderderg Gorge. Eventually, many of these areas were transferred in various reviews by the Land Conservation Council (LCC) to be managed either by the Victorian National Park Service (now Parks Victoria) or the Victorian Alpine Resorts Commission (ARC).
During the remaining years of the Commission, it steadily broadened its focus on non-timber aspects of forest management, strongly promoting recreation, tourism, flora and fauna conservation, water catchment protection, farm forestry, biological research, community education (including the construction of a dedicated pavilion at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds), production of what was to become a popular series of forest display posters and the management of the landscape impacts of forestry.
World Forestry Day was proclaimed in 1971 by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. It was set down for 21 March each year to coincide with the vernal equinox or the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. For many years the Commission's staff celebrated the occasion by staging various community events.
Forests Commission Victoria