Globally, freshwater native fish species are increasingly becoming threatened. The impacts of river regulation, climate change, alien species and water extraction are causing populations to decline in abundance, distribution and diversity, pushing many toward extinction. In the Lower Lakes, South Australia, four native freshwater fish species have been in a fight for survival since the Millenium drought decimated them. Indeed, one of the species, the Yarra Pygmy Perch, is the first freshwater fish extinction in the Murray Darling Basin. Fortunately, through the passion, hard work and strong collaboration undertaken over the past decade, each of the four native freshwater fish species are mounting a comeback. Surrogate wetlands, private landholders, school breeding programs and ongoing collaboration, monitoring and management has now led to wild reintroductions of these fish into their former habitats. The future management of these fish includes incorporation of the future impacts of climate change to help guide their conservation. This presentation will highlight the journey, collaborations, and conservation of the big little four - Yarra Pygmy Perch, Southern Pygmy Perch, Murray Hardyhead and Southern Purple-spotted Gudgeon.