[7] The founder of the youth hostel movement, Richard Schirrmann, took youths away from the conditions of factories and cities to experience the countryside on foot and by bicycle and, in winter, on skis and skates, finding accommodation in barns, houses, school buildings and later designated hostels in the countryside.

[8] In 1938, a meeting of 300 people in Upwey, Victoria passed a resolution supporting "establishing ... youth hostels" but not a YHA organisation.

The first Youth Hostel Association formed in Australia was YHA Victoria, stemming from a inaugural public meeting in Melbourne town hall on 4 September 1939, follow-up meetings of an organising council, a conference on 18-19 May 1940 and eventually the constitution of an association on 30 September 1940.

[citation needed] The tree and house represented the outdoor environment and shelter and the open door symbolised a welcome to travellers.

Railway Square YHA (closed) is situated on the disused 'Platform Zero' of Sydney's Central Station, with replica rail carriages providing multi-share rooms and the old parcels sorting shed re-purposed into the hostel's main building.

[19] YHA Ltd has stated commitment to reducing its impact on the environment and raising awareness of the benefits of low-impact travel.

YHA Ltd's Sustainable Hostels Fund, which encourages guests to donate $1 when they book a stay which YHA Ltd then matches, has helped install solar hot water systems at Adelaide Central, Perth City (sold), Byron Bay, Cairns Central, Glebe Point (sold 2020), Pittwater, Hawkesbury Heights (sold 2020), Grampians Eco Lodge and Melbourne Metro, as well as solar power in Alice Springs, which generates as much as half of that hostel's energy needs.

The 145 solar cells installed on Perth City's rooftop in 2014 saves more than 42 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

Some YHA hostels feature rainwater tanks, on-site vegetable gardens and composters, bike rental, swap shelves, low-energy lightbulbs/LEDs, and water-saving bathroom devices to promote sustainable travel.