Cranbourne Botanic Gardens: A Friendly Affair!

The Cranbourne Royal Botanic Gardens boast an amazing Australian bushland experience, with over 10kms of walking trails, and over 100,000 plants from 1,900 varieties (450 of which are Indigenous plants.) Setting it apart from all the other Royal Botanic Gardens is the fact that Cranbourne Gardens is on land that was never cleared of its indigenous vegetation.

Once known as the Cranbourne Reserve, owned by the Australian Army, and utilised for Light Horse training, parts of the area had been quarried for sand and topsoil. However, there were large areas that had remained untouched. This made the location perfect for a Royal Botanic Park focused on native plant species and landscapes. The area, over 475 acres, was acquired in 1969 using funds from the Maud Gibson Trust. Then, work began!

The gardens opened in 1989 and were an immediate success. During development, the main goal had been to create an area of sanctuary for the largest colony of Southern Brown Bandicoots in Victoria, living in our region, and a space welcoming to community. This goal was most definitely accomplished!

The overwhelming success of the gardens meant that the need for a Friends Group of volunteers to care for the space was pressing. Flyers went out to the community in 1991, and on its first founding meeting more than 200 community members were in attendance and became involved.

Now, a new publication, ‘Of Friends & Gardens: A History of the Cranbourne Friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria,’ by Carolyn Landon (author and member of the group) explores the history of the Cranbourne Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.

It follows the site from its earliest inception, including the many successes of the group; establishing nurseries, as well as the Maud Gibson room and library (for use by members and staff.) The group now boasts 600 members and several special interest groups, including illustration, craft, photography and growing. Exhibitions and presentations are frequently held in the gardens, and the group publishes a seasonal newsletter for those passionate about Australian plants and wildlife.

The history and images contained within the pages of this book are stunning- almost every page is adorned with a new photograph. The book is available to borrow from our library – just click here.

Search the Cranbourne Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria website for more information!

 
(Cranbourne Run, 1996. Botanic Gardens middle of image.)

References
Carolyn Landon. (2021). Of friends and gardens: A history of the Cranbourne friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Hardie Grant Media.

Cranbourne Friends, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Inc. (2018). Cranbourne Friends, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Website. https://rbgfriendscranbourne.org.au/

Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. (n.d.). Cranbourne Gardens. Website. https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/cranbourne-gardens/

Images
City of Casey. (1996). 1996 Cranbourne Run 000 N9933. Image. https://cclc.libsvic.ent.sirsidynix.net.au/client/en_AU/search/asset/267423/0

Carolyn Landon. (2021). Of friends and gardens: A history of the Cranbourne friends of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Hardie Grant Media.

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