The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (''RTBG''), which cover an area of approximately 14 hectares (34.6 acres), in

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

located within the

Queens Domain The Queens Domain, also known as The Domain to locals, is a small hilly area of bushland just north-east of the CBD of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, alongside the Derwent River. It is traditionally land that "belongs to the people", as commissi ...

History

The gardens were established in 1818 and is the second oldest Botanical Gardens in Australia – the Sydney Botanic gardens were founded two years earlier. The land was originally occupied by the Muwinina people. Archaeological excavations have uncovered extensive shell middens and stone artifacts dating back more than 5000 years.

Gardens

The Gardens hold historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating back to the nineteenth century. It also has an increasing number of important conservation collections of Tasmanian plants, of which the King's Lomatia is one of the most unusual, and the world's only Subantarctic Plant House. Here, plants from subantarctic islands in high southern latitudes are displayed in a climatically-controlled environment, where chilly fogs and mists mirror the wet, cold conditions of their island homes. The plants of the Subantarctic Plant House have been collected by Gardens staff and associated scientists on field trips to

Macquarie Island Macquarie Island is an island in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica. Regionally part of Oceania and politically a part of Tasmania, Australia, since 1900, it became a Tasmanian State Reserve in 197 ...

. The visitor centre houses a restaurant, souvenir shop, and a gallery with regularly changing displays by local artists, together with a display area containing the Gardens' own exhibitions. Prior to European settlement, local Aboriginal tribes used the site, and traces of their occupation are still apparent. From 1996, the Gardens have contained ''The Patch'', a working display garden which regularly appears on

Gardening Australia ''Gardening Australia'' is an Australian lifestyle television program which suggests and promotes organic and environmentally friendly ways of gardening. It is created by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and airs on ABC TV, in an hour- ...

Community Interaction

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are known to be supportive of the local community, including hosting an exhibition in February 2011 of photos created by students at OAK Community Services. In early 2011 the Gardens played host to '' Power Plant '', a sound and light show that came straight from a sell out season in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

. The show was installed into the gardens as part of the

Ten Days on the Island 10 Days on the Island is a biennial cultural festival held in Tasmania, Australia. The first was held in 2001. It is Tasmania's premier cultural event, and presents exhibitions, performances and community events in 50 locations around the island. ...

2011 Festival.

Education

* The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens are dedicated to educating people about plants and the environment. One of their major educational annual events is Growing Your Future, a career event that brings together a variety of organisations and businesses with students to expand students' perceptions and horizons. In 2012 the event is planned to be held on April 27. * The Royal Tasmanian Gardens are also part of the

Growing our Future, Growing the NBN Growing our Future, Growing the NBN is a Tasmanian project funded under the National Broadband Network (NBN) funding round one, which aims to deliver horticulture training to students from around Tasmania. This project is an initiative of a partne ...

partnership. The project aims to deliver horticulture training to students from all around

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

References

External links

Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens website
{{Authority control Botanical gardens in Tasmania Tourist attractions in Hobart Organisations based in Australia with royal patronage 1818 establishments in Australia Japanese gardens in Australia Government agencies of Tasmania Tasmanian Heritage Register