The Great Aussie Bush Camp is embarking on an exciting national expansion that will bring its transformative outdoor education experiences to thousands more Australian students across three states.
From Hunter Roots to National Presence
What began as a simple idea at Tea Gardens more than 25 years ago has now grown into a significant national operation. The Great Aussie Bush Camp has acquired PGL Adventure Camps, marking a major milestone in the company's history and expanding its reach beyond New South Wales for the first time.
The acquisition includes three established camp facilities: Campaspe Downs in Kyneton, Victoria; Camp Rumbug in Gippsland, Victoria; and Kindilan in Redland Bay, Queensland. These join the existing camps at Tea Gardens, Kincumber, Lake Macquarie and the recently acquired Camp Wombaroo in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Graham Ward, CEO of The Great Aussie Bush Camp, described the move as "a perfect alignment" that represents an exciting new chapter for the business. "We've admired the PGL business for many years," he said, highlighting the strategic fit between the two outdoor education providers.
Securing Jobs and Expanding Opportunities
The acquisition brings significant benefits beyond expanded geographical reach. 150 jobs across the three newly acquired centres have been secured, providing stability for staff and maintaining continuity for the thousands of students who attend these camps annually.
The centres will continue operating under the PGL brand for a transitional period of up to six months while systems and licenses tied to the European operations are finalised. PGL Adventure Camps was previously owned by PGL Beyond, the UK's largest outdoor education provider, which made a strategic decision to focus on its European operations.
Anthony Jones, CEO of PGL Beyond, expressed confidence in the handover, stating: "We have been delighted with the growth in the Australian business over the last couple of years. This growth will put the camps' new owners, The Great Aussie Bush Camp, in a fantastic position to continue to spark breakthroughs and transform the lives of many young Australians."
The Legacy of Outdoor Adventure Education
The Great Aussie Bush Camp's story has deep roots in Australian entertainment history. The business traces its origins to Leyland Brothers World, the theme park founded by pioneering documentary filmmakers Mike and Mal Leyland, famous for their 1970s and '80s television series Ask The Leyland Brothers.
Mike Leyland started his career as a news cameraman at NBN Television, while Mal began as a cadet journalist at Newcastle's The Sun newspaper. Their vision for outdoor adventure education took physical form in 1990 when they opened Leyland Brothers World on the Pacific Highway near Tea Gardens, complete with a roadhouse underneath a scaled replica of Uluru and a 144-student capacity bush camp.
After the original park closed in 1992, the site continued as an outdoor recreation centre until 2009, when Sarah and Brad Love, and Simone and Brad Higgins purchased the site and created The Great Aussie Bush Camp as it exists today. The business was subsequently sold to EdCamps Australia in 2023.
For CEO Graham Ward, taking on the leadership role two years ago was "a no-brainer." He brings personal passion to the position, recalling fond memories of school camps from his own childhood and understanding their profound impact on children's development.
"Catching up with my friends from school, we're often talking about a school camp experience," Ward shared. "A couple of friends of mine, I never knew them until we went to school camp, and now we're all lifelong friends."
The camp experience offers children opportunities to develop resilience, teamwork, confidence, and a renewed love of the great outdoors through activities including giant swings, climbing ropes, raft building, bushwalking, abseiling, archery, orienteering, and canoeing.
"I've worked in a lot of different industries over the years and this was an opportunity to give something back, to make a difference," Ward explained. He emphasised the careful selection of staff who possess the qualities needed to create memorable experiences for each student, describing it as part of the company's "secret herbs and spices."
The expansion means that the unique benefits of The Great Aussie Bush Camp experience - which for some children represents their first time away from parents or their first-ever holiday - will now reach thousands more students across Victoria and Queensland, continuing the legacy that began with Hunter and Newcastle children over two decades ago.
