Wetlands are diverse in geomorphology, hydrology and biotic expression, often exhibiting dramatic inter and intra-annual variability. However, wetland condition is ultimately underpinned by the availability of water. Interruptions to hydrology, both in excess and deficiency, result in chronic stressors which ultimately impact on their character and their capacity to provide habitat. Their breadth of diversity makes the assignment of reference states problematic and geographically constrained. Insights into pre-disturbance states are thus a valuable commodity in establishing and measuring restoration objectives. In this presentation we outline our development of a pre-disturbance reference state description and describe steps taken to evaluate restoration objectives for a coastal wetland system in south west Victoria, using historical survey records and aerial imagery combined with contemporary biotic and hydrological monitoring data.