It works in collaboration with over 150 groups Australia-wide to protect Victoria's environment and relies on financial support from donors, members, grants and sponsorships.

[1] The group was originally formed in 1969 as the Conservation Council of Victoria as a result of a successful campaign to save the Little Desert National Park from subdivision.

In 1994, the organisation changed name to Environment Victoria to reflect the broader range of issues it now deals with.

Joan Lindros, Bill Holsworth and Malcolm Calder were also long serving representatives.

Environment Victoria list the Walk Against Warming, the successful campaign to put a price on pollution in Australia and the federal government's decision to withdraw funding from HRL's proposed coal-fired power station in 2012 among their successes.