Press Releases

30 March 2007

Australian Garden is the flower of Cranbourne    

Tim Holding MP, Minister for Tourism and local Member for Lyndhurst, yesterday visited the Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to congratulate staff for winning the top new tourist development in Australia prize at the 2006 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

 

Mr Holding said it was the first time in Australia that a botanic garden had won the award and came less than a year after the Premier opened the Garden in May last year.

 

“I want to congratulate the fantastic staff at the Australian Garden in Cranbourne for their achievement at the Australian Tourism Awards. The acknowledgement through this award is well deserved and testament to their efforts and all of the Garden’s supporters for creating a wonderful experience for Australians and international visitors for many years to come,” Mr Holding said.

 

The Garden has quickly become a popular local attraction. The Bracks Government has contributed over $9 million of the total $50 million for the Garden’s development, with another $21 million already committed for the next stage.

 

The Garden has enjoyed close to 50,000 local and international visitors and there have also been visits from 5000 school and university students.

 

Narre Warren South MP, Judith Graley said:  “The Australian Garden is fast becoming one of the most popular locations for people in my electorate to visit.  It is a place for them to take their families as well as their friends and visitors, and it's a wonderful place for us all to learn more about native Australian plants.”

 

Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Dr Philip Moors, said: "The award was an overwhelming confirmation that botanic gardens are an important part of tourism in this country.”

 

"In less than a year, thousands of people have visited this world-class public garden that celebrates the beauty and diversity of Australia's plant life,” Dr Moors said.

 

"This award will certainly continue to boost the reputation of the Australian Garden as a must-visit place not just for local people but also for interstate and international visitors.”

 

There are around 100 000 plants at the Australian Garden, including 1000 trees, 15 different landscape display and exhibition gardens which give visitors to the Centre an opportunity to experience the Australian Garden, and also receive information from very knowledgeable guides.

 

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