Botanists have likened the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi in Australian plant communities to that of the last ice age, which affected a large number of plant families, genera and species within these families. Phytophthora cinnamomi affects the floristics and structure of many unique plant communities. We discuss the impact of this pathogen and our current knowledge of its biology, genetics and pathology in Western Australian plant communities and the current management strategies used to limit its spread and impact. We hope that the knowledge obtained from some of our experiences in managing this pathogen in Western Australian natural ecosystems will be of some benefit to researchers studying Phytophthora diseases in Quercus, Alnus and Castanea in Europe and America.