But its future is looking brighter with the announcement of a $650,000 initiative to support its reintroduction into the wild.

The joint project between the ACT government and Zoos Victoria, with $80,000 from the Australian government's threatened species recovery fund will see the construction of a 120-hectare semi-wild predator-proof enclosure, ACT minister for the environment Mick Gentleman said.

The enclosure will be built at the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

"This will provide increased opportunities to reintroduce animals bred within the enclosure to sites in Victoria and potentially within the ACT," Mr Gentleman said.

It also allowed more research into the wallaby’s ecology.

“Researchers are now moving threatened species management away from intensive breeding programs
and husbandry," he said.

"Research shows that although numbers are important, the genetic integrity of individual animals is critical to their overall survival.

There are fewer than 80 brush-tailed rock wallabies in captivity across the ACT, Victoria and South Australia.

Zoos Victoria threatened species general manager Craig Whiteford said urgent action was needed to save the brush-tailed rock wallaby from extinction, with long-term strategies for their release back into the wild.

"Of the 15 species of rock wallaby in Australia, most have disappeared from their original range and are now considered threatened," Mr Whiteford said.

Tidbinbilla and the ACT Parks and Conservation Service will oversee the breeding population of brush-tailed rock wallabies and provide animals for reintroduction in Victoria and the ACT.

"Tidbinbilla is well-placed to host this new facility as it has played a vital role in the recovery of the brush-tailed rock wallaby since the 1980s," he said.

Work on the enclosure will start in July and it is expected to be finished by the end of the year.