Historical information

Human Impacts on Australian Beaches was a landmark environmental study which provided a 'snapshot' of the health of 1612 beach areas around Australia. This nationwide study (which built on the success of the 1994 State of Our Surf Report) was put together by the Surfrider Foundation Australia with the support of more then 340 individuals and 70 organisations around Australia. The report was authored by surfer/environmentalist/artist Michael Legge-Wilkinson from Newcastle, New South Wales. Human Impacts was launched officially by Peter Garrett, leader of Australian rock band Midnight Oil at the Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach in May 1996.

Significance

Human Impacts built on the success of the 1994 State Of Our Surf Report, released by the Surfrider Foundation Australia in 1994. Human Impacts was the first major report to specifically examine the environmental health of 1612 of Australia's beaches. A limited 500 copies of this report were produced, the majority of which went to education institutions, libraries, community groups and government departments. The report generated national and international media interest with the BBC London reporting on its findings in the week after its launch.

Physical description

Beach Environmental Report. 168 page report which examines the health of 1612 beach areas around Australia. Sepia cover featuring a photograph of endangered sanddunes at Stockton Bight, north of Newcastle. 168 pages

Inscriptions & markings

Sepia cover, Surfrider Foundation logo on report cover