Press Releases

History will be made in Cranbourne today when the Minister for Environment, the Hon John Thwaites, turns the first sod at the Australian Garden.

Work begins immediately to ensure that the Australian Garden opens in late 2005.

Already much awarded for its landscape design, the Australian Garden will highlight the contribution of Australia’s flora to the national sense of place and the nature of Australia. It is the only garden of its kind in the world and is being built on 11 hectares of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

Mr Thwaites said that he was delighted to be able to play a crucial part in the making of the Australian Garden.

"Creating a garden like this takes vision and commitment and enormous team support," he said.

"Once open, it will be a marvellous tourist destination with a twist: it will openly encourage people to stop and take notice of Australian plants, to learn about them, to explore them and to enjoy them. The Australian Garden is an extraordinary blend of conservation, recreation and education," said Mr Thwaites.

Funding for the Australian Garden has come from the Victorian and Federal Government as well as philanthropic trusts, individual donors and corporate sponsors.

Dr Philip Moors, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, said that today was an important milestone for the Gardens.

"The gardens in Cranbourne are already very special because they are home to many of Victoria’s rare and endangered plants and animals.

"The Australian Garden will add to this natural bushland experience, by providing a strikingly beautiful and artistic landscape inspired by flora and landscapes from across Australia. There will be nothing quite like it anywhere else," he added.

The team behind the Australian Garden includes the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne staff, landscape designers Taylor Cullity Lethlean together with Australian plant designer Paul Thompson, architects Kerstin Thompson Architects Pty Ltd and Richmond civil engineering firm, Cut & Fill Pty Ltd.