Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

Celebrating 20 Years of the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden 🌿 The Children’s Garden is turning 20! And you’re invited to help us celebrate at a jam-packed weekend of activities. Follow human-sized Bees in an immersive and interactive performance by Polyglot Theatre, as they busy themselves creating a bee community amongst the spring blossoms. You might also encounter the giant Praying Mantis of her friend the Ladybird, popping in to roam the garden, by ensemble Born in a Taxi. Climb, jump, crouch, crawl and revel in a garden specifically designed for nature-based play. We’re also refreshing our storytelling – we’d love you to come and see! You’ll find beautiful plant labels with illustrations by young designers that reveal wonderful stories about our plants and the animals who visit them. You can also collect Seek and Find circles and head off in search of shapes and colours and hidden animals. Afterwards, explore the rest of Melbourne Gardens with the brand-new episode of our audio series Sonica Botanica, created by kids in collaboration with artist Patrick Cronin. You'll experience the Gardens as kids do, and be reminded that every garden is a children’s garden. Proudly supported by The Ian Potter Foundation, the Children’s Garden has been a cornerstone of education and play for two decades. So make a beeline for The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden! 📅 Saturday 26th – Sunday 27th October ⏰ 10am – 4pm (Performances at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm) 🎟️ Free event – no booking required 📍 The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZLddCb

Have you ever wondered how some of our rarest plant species were discovered? Join our Collections Manager Alison Vaughan as she takes Radio National on a fascinating journey into the history of a tiny specimen now held in the National Herbarium of Victoria. You can hear the story here. https://bit.ly/3zSL41Q

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is hiring a Landscape Systems Officer. Apply today! We have an exciting opportunity for a Landscape Systems Officer to join our team at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. This role supports the oversight of various landscape systems within Melbourne Gardens, encompassing lake systems, water play installations, wetlands, recycled water for irrigation, green organics recycling, biosecurity, and catchment hydrology. The successful candidate will hold a diploma in Horticultural or Environmental Science or other relevant field, or commensurate industry experience in maintaining water ecosystems. Candidates who can demonstrate proficiency in the safe operation of plant and equipment for infrastructure, asset, and environmental management, including personal protective equipment are encouraged to apply. To learn more about this opportunity and apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3BD9SuW

Congratulations to Neville Walsh, Honorary Associate, for winning the 2024 Professional Award from the Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). This prestigious award acknowledges Neville's outstanding contributions to the understanding of Australian plants throughout his extensive career. The ANPSA presents the award in two Professional and Amateur categories, with Neville winning the Professional Award. Neville began his career as a botanist at the National Herbarium of Victoria in 1977 and retired as a Senior Botanist at the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in 2022. Among his many achievements during his career, Neville was instrumental in naming over 140 new plant species, and more than 6,000 specimens species collected by him are housed at the National Herbarium of Victoria. He was presented with the award at the biennial Australian Flora conference, which was hosted by the Australian Native Plant Society (Victoria) last month. We are incredibly proud of Neville’s legacy and the impact he has had on Australian botany.

Do you think Melbourne is experiencing an early spring this year? Have you noticed anything blooming early in your garden at home? Our Cranbourne Gardens acting horticulture manager, Mandy Thompson, shared her observations this week in The Guardian. In this interview, Mandy discusses the early blooming effects of warmer weather on our gardens and subsequent behaviour changes from some of our native wildlife. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3Mn8Jdh

We're hiring! If you or someone you know is interested in our open Facilities Administration Officer role, make sure to apply via the link below before the closing date on Sunday 18 August. Find the role at: https://lnkd.in/dbFNWCdx

Today marks National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day – a day to celebrate the strength and culture of First Nations children. This year’s theme of 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 recognises that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are stronger when connected to culture and mob. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria acknowledges the strength, resilience and potential of First Nations children, and recognises the importance of cultural links for creating a strong sense of identity and pride. This understanding is the foundation of the Balee Koolin Bubup Playgroup, which has been meeting weekly at Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne for over ten years. Balee Koolin Bubup Playgroup revolves around play and nature-based activities involving Aboriginal storytelling, bush exploration, song, dance and music, and the learning of the local Aboriginal Bunurong/Boonwurrung language and culture. An essential part of the Playgroup is Jaffa Richardson, Aboriginal Learning Officer at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, who recently received the community award at the Frankston/Mornington Peninsula NAIDOC Awards 2024 for her ongoing work in the local community. 📷: Jaffa Richardson connects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to local culture, language and community through the weekly Balee Kulin Bubup Playgroup at Cranbourne Gardens. To learn more about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, go to https://lnkd.in/gBcP_86T.

Cleaner and quieter, our new electric sweeper is already a big hit at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 🚐 Replacing the existing diesel sweeper vehicle, this new sweeper is fully electric and will reduce an estimated 1,650 kilos of CO2 of tail pipe emissions per year. Visitors to Melbourne Gardens will appreciate the change too, as the new sweeper's electric motor will be much quieter as it keeps our paths pristine.

Part 2 of Botanic Gardens of Sydney's What the Flora!? video is out, so now is the perfect time to watch both parts and see the whole story of how these marvellous native cycads are being saved from extinction. A big shout-out to our very own Tim Uebergang and Georgie Moyes for their contributions to this crucial work, which you can learn more about in the two videos.

During this year's NAIDOC week, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) had the honour to be gifted a 𝘞𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘯 Manna gum (𝐸𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠) by the Traditional Owners of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne site, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Peoples. The 𝘞𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘯 is a culturally significant tree, and its planting at the Melbourne Gardens' site honours Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Ancestors and Elders past and present. The ceremony and planting of the 𝘞𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘯 is an important step in commemorating both organisations' partnership and recently-signed Memorandum of Understanding. It signifies a commitment towards truth telling, reconciliation and healing Country from the impacts of colonisation. This commitment was further marked on the day by Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Elders delivery of cultural training sessions to the RBGV Board and staff. 📷: 1. Elders from Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) and Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) staff with the planted 'Wurun' Manna gum (𝐸𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠). 2. Wurundjeri Elders Uncle Bill Nicholson, Uncle Andrew Gardiner and Aunty Alice Kolasa, with RBGV Board Chair Penny Fowler and Director and Chief Executive Chris Russell. 3. The plaque of the new 𝘞𝘶𝘳𝘶𝘯 Manna gum (𝐸𝑢𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑦𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑠 𝑣𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑠) tree. 4. Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Alice Kolasa creating space for the new planting with a ceremonial digging stick. 5. RBGV Aboriginal Learning Officer Jakobi makes preparations for the Smoking Ceremony.