Attractions
Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Address Wendouree Parade
Suburb/town: Wendouree
Phone: 03 5320 5135
Email:
rccadmin@ballarat.vic.gov.au
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The Ballarat Botanical Gardens established in 1858 are considered one of Australia's best examples of the 19th Century gardenesque style landscape. The Gardens comprise the South Gardens Reserve with the Australian Ex Prisoner of War Memorial, Tramways Museum and Trout Hatcheries. The central gardens precinct and the North Gardens Reserve with its wetlands and indigenous plant collections.
The 11 hectare central gardens are famous for landmark architecture including the cast iron Statuary Pavilion (1888) and Robert Clark Conservatory (1995).
The twice yearly bedding plant displays create explosions of colour and texture with 40,000 seedlings in Spring and early Autumn. Theme gardens include the Sensory Garden, Ornamental Grasses, Fragrant Garden, Winter Garden, Hot Colours, White Garden, Floral Clock, Asian Collection, Australian Native Collection.
The Conservatory exhibits our internationally renowned tuberous begonia collection in Autumn, (commencing with the Begonia Festival) and other seasonal floral displays throughout the year. The Prime Ministers Avenue displays bronze busts of each Australia's heads of state.
The 130 year old Sequioadendron Avenue is listed on the National Trust Significant Trees Register with its redwoods being some of the oldest and largest in Australia. The Carrara marble statue collections reflect the opulence and civic pride of the 1880's when Ballarat was considered one of the wealthiest communities in the world.
Plant, giftware and refreshments can be purchased at The Conservatory, while the Crafts Cottage sells quality craft produced by local artisans.
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