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Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens was established in 1846 by Lieutenant Governor Charles La Trobe beside the Yarra River and south of the city of Melbourne. Over the next 60 years this swampy site was transformed into the world-famous landscape we know today.Ferdinand von Mueller was appointed Director of the Gardens in 1857. He built on the work of Curators John Arthur (1846-9) and John Dallachy (1849-57). Mueller’s achievements included a plantation of conifers to demonstrate their usefulness to Victoria, a fountain in the middle of the lagoon, and a formal garden to show the relationships between families of plants. In 1867 the Giant Waterlily, one of the great horticultural wonders of the time, flowered for the first time in Melbourne. Entertainment in the Gardens in Mueller’s time included band concerts and horticultural shows.Mueller was also Victoria’s first Government Botanist from 1853 to 1896. During that time he established the National Herbarium of Victoria, Australia’s most important collection of preserved Australian native plants. He was also the first person to explore much of Victoria.In 1873 Mueller was succeeded by William Guilfoyle. Guilfoyle has been described as 'the master of landscaping'. It is his vision that shaped the Gardens to their current form. By carefully planting trees and placing garden beds he developed the scenic panoramas and sweeping lawns that are characteristic of the Gardens. He was inspired by sub-tropical plants and used many of them in his landscapes, including flaxes and cordylines from New Zealand, palms, and other foliage plants. Among his creations are the Fern Gully, rockeries, picturesque shelters, the Temple of the Winds (a memorial to La Trobe) and the Ornamental Lake. His volcano has been restored as an important part of the Gardens’ water management program.Guilfoyle retired in 1909. The next 80 years were a period of maintenance and consolidation. Successive directors often had to struggle with reduced budgets. In the 1980s a Government enquiry about the future of the Gardens resulted in the establishment of the Royal Botanic Gardens Board of Victoria. The Board is now responsible for the management of the Gardens for the people of Victoria. The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne was established in 1982 and assists the Gardens in many of its projects.
The Royal Botanic Garden in Cranbourne has so much to offer! The new 4 km Bicycle Track winds its way through the beautiful bushland, grassland and...
Come and see all that Royal Botanic Garden has to offer at this lovely time. Spring is a spectacular time to visit the RBG Cranbourne bushland as the...
The Ruin Garden - Children are able to scramble over and under rock, dig in the sand mulch and construct cubbies from collected plant materials. Meeting...
The Shrine of Remembrance school holiday programs are an ideal way for families with children aged 6-12 to participate in remembrance and discover the...
Young families can explore the Shrine of Remembrance this summer with the help of Lofty the Light Horse and Pat, an Australian Light Horse soldier! Pick...
Mike Johnson on harp, David Jones on percussion, Ben Robertson on Double Bass and Evripides Evripidou on Guitar Hypnotic, meditative and rhythmical loops...
Have you ever watched tree crews at work and wondered what they are doing?The Royal Botanic Gardens’ two arborists will be showing off their skills on...
Kidney Health Australia is launching its latest fundraising and awareness-raising initiative - the BIG RED WALK on Father's Day, Sunday, 2 September 2012....
Families can journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation and explore their rich and thriving culture on this award-winning walk. Experience a...
Families can view the moon through a historic telescope and learn about Earth’s only natural satellite with astronomical guides. Suits families with...
If your child loves discovery, then the Children’s Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens is the perfect place to go! There’s lots of fun places to explore...
An inspiring and uplifting concert by our resident harpist Michael Johnson, presenting music composed in the Gardens. This small and personal concert...
Conducted by Wendy - Jane Sheppard, this workshop focuses on mixing colours, with a particular emphasis placed on mixing greens. This class is suitable...
Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and shopping list or two during his lifetime. The Australian Shakespeare Company’s...
A Midsummer Night's Dream as you have never seen it before. This summer in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne the Australian Shakespeare Company presents...
Staying overnight in the Royal Botanic Gardens sounds like a complete trip to us, but the researchers and students of Earthwatch will turn it into a...
Families can journey into the ancestral lands of the Kulin nation and explore their rich culture on this award-winning walk. Experience a traditional...
William Tell Rest House, edge of the Ornamental Lake. Meet at the Visitor Centre, Observatory Gate. Bkgs ess.
Children can sing songs, shake out some rhythm and enjoy music inspired by the plants and animals of the garden. Created especially for pre-schoolers,...
This is an opportunity for families to explore this heritage-listed building and see the handmade items created by the volunteers. A craft group will...
The Moonlight Cinema’s home of the Royal Botanic Gardens makes film-watching such a Gatsby-esque pleasure for the senses. Once sundown hits, you can...
Families can gaze into the summer-night sky with astronomers. Jupiter, with its many moons, can easily be seen for most of the summer months and there...
Enjoy a stroll through the gardens on a summer evening. See the various plants and the lakes, which are home to water birds and tortoises. Bkgs ess.
AVEDA 2011 EARTH MONTH MELBOURNE 6KM ‘WALK FOR WATER’ – Sunday 17th April 2011 Aveda Earth Month 2011 seeks to raise funds and awareness for global clean...
The Australian Shakespeare Company returns to the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne performing Shakespeare’s funniest play, The Comedy of Errors, an...
Summer is not truly summer without a fresh, outdoor production in Melbourne`s Royal Botanic Gardens. Join The Australian Shakespeare Company as they bring...