Sustainable Turf Management

About 15 hectares of turf contributes significant value to the world-renowned landscape (38 ha) of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

This picturesque landscape design involves a dynamic relationship between void and mass. Both elements of design are essential to present a harmonious whole. In the Gardens, the lawn areas generally comprise the fundamental void elements.

The void areas created by the lawns in this garden provides:

• important vistas and views
• important contrast to the mass shrub elements and trees
• foreground displays
• definitions of space
• significant curvilinear shaping of the landscape layout

Apart from the essential aesthetic and design qualities of the turf, it also provides a passive recreational surface for about 2 million visitors per annum. The turf also supports the activities that provide essential revenue for RBG Melbourne.

A Turf Strategic Plan (TSP) has been developed to manage and improve the turf with more sustainable practices. These practices aim to maintain the significant contributions of turf to the quality of the heritage RBG Melbourne landscape.

Click here to download the Turf Strategic Plan 2003 - 2008 (1.1MB PDF format).