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A sperm donor who has fathered 17 children and says he often walks down the street and wonders if strangers are his 'family'.

Brett Webb, 58, and his wife Padma had been trying to to have a baby for 12 years when he started donating sperm in 1998.

Since then, the materials testing technician from Melbourne has fathered 10 boys and five girls by strangers and has had twins Zoe and Zane with his wife.

'We found out my wife had polycystic ovaries and blocked tubes, and then she developed diabetes from the IVF medication, and it was going to be really hard for her to carry a baby,' Mr Webb said.

'She had a lot of miscarriages. One day I was in the IVF clinic and saw a sign on the wall that read "do you want to be a dad?"

'I thought "Yes, I do", so we looked into it and I realised I may not be able to have my own kids, but I could help others.'  

Mr Webb, 58, and his wife Padma (pictured) had been trying to have a baby for 12 years when he started donating sperm

Four years into the sperm donation program, Mr ans Mrs Webb (centre) conceived twins Zoe and Zane (left and right) through IVF

Mr Webb stopped donating sperm when he had his own kids in 2001, and he has met three of his sons and three of his daughters.

However he still walks past familiar-looking people on the street and wonders if they're family. 

'I wonder every day,' he said.

'Someone walks past and they have similar features and I think "they look like family". The thought only lasts a few seconds, but it's always at the back of my mind.' 

One of Mr Webb's daughter's is Casey Burns, 20, who has known she was conceived using sperm donation since she was about seven. Ms Burns grew up in Geelong in Victoria with her mother and has had two step-fathers.

Casey Burns, 20, has known she was conceived using a sperm donation from Brett Webb since she was about seven

'It's a bit sad because I know I'll probably never get to meet a lot of my half-siblings, and I don't make it my life's mission to find them, but the best way I can describe it is "strange'',' she said.

'Sometimes people will say, "you look a lot like this person I know - are you related?" and I have to tell them that maybe I am, but I just don't know.'

Of her 16 siblings, Ms Burns has twin half-brothers and a sister who were also conceived using a sperm donation. She has also met Zoe and Zane.

Having spent time with Zoe and Zane, 18, since she was young, Ms Burns said the three of them have a great relationship and knowing them and their dad has been an overwhelmingly positive experience.

'I last saw Brett a few weeks ago - we have a good relationship.'

Ms Burns (left, as a child) said she has a great relationship with Zoe and Zane (right, as children)

Zoe (left) and Zane, who have grown up with both biological parents and are now 18, have always known their dad was a sperm donor

Zoe Webb, 18, has always known her father was a sperm donor and gets along with her half-sister Casey

Zoe and Zane, who have grown up with both biological parents, have always known their dad was a sperm donor.

'Being aware of it from such a young age, I've never really had opinions on my dad being a sperm donor, its always just been apart of him and how I view him,' Zane said.

'Having a lot of siblings acts a good conversation starter but, overall, I'm pretty indifferent with my father being a sperm donor.' 

While Mrs Webb initially didn't want anyone else knowing her husband was donating sperm - she was worried others would think he was resorting to extreme measures to have children - more than 20 years later, the family are open about it.

'Everyone just knows that's Brett … he's the guy with the kids. He's the w**ker,' Mr Webb joked.

'Being a sperm donor has been a beautiful experience.'

'I don't expect all my biological children to get in touch with me or to want a relationship with me - I can be whatever they want me to be - i's completely up to them.'   

'Being aware of it from such a young age, I've never really had opinions on my dad being a sperm donor, its always just been apart of him and how I view him,' Zane (pictured) said