Australian Garden

The Australian Garden is an inspiring and immersive display of Australian flora, landscapes, art and architecture. Set across 15 hectares, the Australian Garden follows a journey of water from the arid inland landscapes of central Australia, along dry river beds and down mighty rivers to the coastal fringes of the continent. Within this wonderful landscape are the exhibition gardens where you can explore the beauty and diversity of Australian plants and the evolving connections between people, plants and landscapes. The Australian Garden is also a place where you can discover inspiration and information about how to use Australian plants in your home garden.

Plants collections at Cranbourne

Watch the clip below to see construction of the Lilypad Bridge and the planting around the Gondwana Garden in 2012 as the final stages of the Australian Garden were being completed.

River Walk

The River Walk is a broad promenade with views across a meandering ‘river bend’ water body. This area, comprising a large, curving, treed walkway of granitic gravel and a waterside section of timber decking, connects the Rockpool Waterway with the vibrant Display Gardens and Howson Hill.

The River Walk includes a generous public waterside space for gatherings, seating, functions, entertainment, and education programs. A timber-clad amphitheatre with seating for over 150 students provides an outdoor gathering space fringed by Australian plants and shade-providing trees.

Howson Hill

Howson Hill emerges from a tranquil waterway north of the River Walk and is capped with existing rare and endangered Mallee Eucalypts. A walk along the ridge provides access to these unique trees and a rich under-storey of grasses and ground covers. The loosely defined path culminates in a platform with views across the Australian Garden and the Melaleuca Spits. A pathway providing continuous waterside access links the two sections of the Display Gardens in the ‘valleys’ adjacent to Howson Hill.

Display Gardens

The Display Gardens provide practical ‘take home’ ideas for visitors. The precinct includes the How to Garden, Promenade Plaza, the Backyard Garden, the Lifestyle Garden, the Greening Cities Garden, the Diversity Garden and the Home Garden.

The Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct

The Ian Potter Lakeside Precinct is a unique public events space catering for up to 1500 people. Looking out over the Ian Potter Lake, the area acts as a focal point for both education and entertainment.

Gibson Hill

Another prominent landscape feature, Gibson Hill is an ideal a place to rest with panoramic views to the entire Australian Garden. Its blue-foliaged saltbush and acacias provide a backdrop to the Red Sand Garden. A winding path provides all-abilities access to the top of the Hill.

Awards for the Australian Garden

The first stage of the Australian Garden opened to much acclaim in 2006 and the second and final stage of the Australian Garden was publically opened in October 2012. The result of more than a decade of planning, this bold new landscape design garnered almost 30 planning, design, and landscape awards between 1997 and 2013.

1997

Landscape Excellence Award

Landscape Masterplan Award

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (Victorian and Tasmanian Chapters) Annual Landscape Design Awards

1998

Landscape Masterplan Award

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ National Awards

2006

Best Public Open Space (the AustralianGarden)

Best Public Building (Visitor Centre)

Best Environmental Building or Landscape (the Future Garden)

The Chairman’s Premier Award (for the above three entries)

South East Development Architectural Awards

Best New Tourism Development

Victorian Tourism Awards

2007

Best New Tourism Development

QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards

AILA Victoria Award in Landscape Architecture

AILA Victoria Award for Excellence in Design

Merit Award (FutureGarden) (Awarded to SITE OFFICE Pty Ltd Landscape Architecture)

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (Victorian Branch)

Accommodation and Attractions (Awarded to the Australian Garden and RBG Cranbourne)

Environmental Sustainability (Awarded to the Australian Garden and RBG Cranbourne)

Leader Newspaper Business Achiever Awards (Casey-Cardinia Region)

2008

Premier’s Design Mark Award 2008 for Commercial Landscape Design

Victorian Government’s ‘State of Design 2008: Victoria’s Design Festival National Landscape Architecture Award of Excellence (Design Category) (Awarded to Taylor Cullity Lethlean with Paul Thompson)

Merit Award (FutureGarden) (Awarded to SITE OFFICE Pty Ltd Landscape Architecture)

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects’ National Awards

Accommodation and Attractions (Awarded to the AustralianGarden and RBG Cranbourne)

Environmental Sustainability (Awarded to the AustralianGarden and RBG Cranbourne)

Leader Newspaper Business Achiever Awards (Casey-Cardinia Region)

2013

Landscape of the Year World Architecture Festival Awards

Science

Conservation

Victoria's flora and fungi are under increasing threat from climate change, environmental weeds, agriculture, forest clearance and urbanisation. Climate change will especially impact on plants restricted to the coldest environments on mountain summits, which are likely to lose their only suitable habitat. At Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, studies of taxonomy, distribution, population genetics, propagation, translocation and seed banking all contribute to the conservation of Victoria’s and Australia's plants and fungi.

Learn more

Seedbank

We collect millions of high-quality seeds from native plant species within Victoria for long-term storage, research and restoration programs.

Learn more

Conservation

Our scientists work to maintain biological diversity, including genetic variation, essential for functional ecosystems and the long-term viability of species.

Learn more

Weeds and biosecurity

Our research helps to identify, document and combat environmental weeds that pose a threat to native ecosystems and biodiversity.

Learn more

Protecting our rare and threatened species

In Victoria, there are nearly 700 native species of threatened plants (among the approximately 3,200 species recorded from the state) along with many others that are rare. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria plays a leading role in programs to conserve these endangered species in order to stabilise or increase populations in their natural habitat. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is particularly involved in the conservation of native terrestrial orchids. Victoria is a 'hotspot' for orchid diversity, with 23 per cent of Australia's orchid species occurring in just 3 per cent of the land area. Most of the native orchid species found in Victoria are terrestrial, and at least a third occur nowhere else.

Horticulture

Plant Collections

Botanic gardens throughout the world play a significant role in helping scientists and the public understand the evolution and history of plants, their present day uses as well as what the future may hold for plants in natural environments. Across our two locations at Melbourne and Cranbourne, our experienced horticulture teams manage 45 plant collections as well as a significant area of precious bushland at Cranbourne Gardens. All of our collections feature plant labels which show each plant's scientific name comprised of a genus and species.

Learn more

Sustainable Management

Our horticultural and environmental research is focused on responding to future challenges such as water availability and changing climatic conditions and looking at how these may impact on plant and landscape conservation within the gardens.

Learn more

Environmental Management

At both Cranbourne and Melbourne our land management teams focus on irrigation management, finding alternate water sources, water quality and biodiversity of the lakes system; reducing weeds, protecting plants against pests and diseases and managing soils.

Learn more

Water conservation

We are constantly striving to improve irrigation efficiency, stormwater treatment, lake ecosystems and water quality in the lake system. Recently the Working Wetlands project was completed at Melbourne Gardens, reducing reliance on potable water by 40%.

Learn more

Home gardening

How we garden in botanic gardens, how you garden at home and how we all garden as a community has big impacts on the biodiversity and sustainability of urban Australia. The Australian Garden at Cranbourne is designed to showcase how native plants can make a spectacular and waterwise home garden. There is an Australian plant suitable for virtually any situation in your garden, from tall trees to ground covers, aquatic plants to those growing in low light or in full sun. Australian plants attract native birds and butterflies, and brighten up your garden with wonderful seasonal colour. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to find inspiration and great tips for using Australian native plants at home.

Visit Cranbourne

Support

Help the Gardens grow

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria has a special place in the hearts and minds of all Victorians. The Gardens has played an important role in the cultural development of Melbourne and can continue to flourish with the help of passionate individuals. There are many ways to get involved with the Gardens and we value any level of support, whether you are a friend or a donor, a member of our Director’s Circle or one of our volunteers. There are also ways to honour those you love by dedicating a tree or a bench within the Garden of your choice.

Support the Gardens

Become a friend

The Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria at Melbourne and Cranbourne Gardens play an active role in raising funds for the gardens through plant sales and programs.

Join the Friends

Donate

It’s easy to help the Gardens. Any donation over $2 is tax deductible and every dollar helps contributes to the work of the Gardens.

Donate now

Honour someone you love

Many people share the Gardens with those they love and some visitors choose to mark a significant occasion by dedicating a tree or a bench to someone special. In the Gardens you’ll notice each bench has a dedication plaque featuring a favourite quote or the recognition of an anniversary, achievement or occasion.

Learn more