Many of the qualities of Victoria's early rangers - enthusiasm, initiative, knowledgeand love of nature and heritage, strength of purpose - are just as important for rangers today as they were 100 years ago.

The first national parks in Victoria were established in the 1890s. Wilsons Promontory and Mount Buffalo date from 1898 and remain two of our most important and popular parks.

Until 1956 there was no state-wide organisation to manage national parks. Instead, parks were run by Individual Committees of Management. Some of these committees employed rangers to carry out day-to-day management and enforce regulations.

'Rangers' were orginally keepers of royal forests in England. The term was then used in the USA national parks, beginning with Yellowstone in 1870 and then spread around the world. Early rangers in Victoria were usually local people with a good knowledge of the area, practical skills and self-reliance. Wages were very modest. Some Committees of Management were so short of money they raised revenue by allowing stock grazing or timber cutting in their parks.

Like rangers today in many places, the early rangers faced many challenges - isolation, physical danger and lack of support. Yet it is clear that they loved their parks and their jobs, welcomed their visitors and enjoyed sharing their special knowledge and passion for nature and history.