Australian National Botanic Gardens

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS Important Dates

1933 July

Advisory Council of Federal Capital Territory recomends the setting up of Gardens to the Minister for the Interior.

1935 Sept

Dr B T Dickson submits report to the Advisory Council recommendng site etc for Gardens. This has come to be known as the Dickson Report.

1944-1958

Lindsay Pryor appointed Superintendent of Parks and Gardens for Canberra, part of the Department of the Interior.

1945 Sept

Pryor recomends start on Gardens. (budget of 1000 pounds for six months)

1948

A few eucalypts planted by Pryor on site for Gardens.

1949 Sept

Ceremonial planting of first trees by Prime Minister Ben Chifley and Director of Kew Gardens, Sir Edward Salisbury.

1950-1960

Dr Erwin Gauba employed as botanist for Dept of Interior.

1950 Sept

Eviction notices sent to grazing lease holders of Gardens site on side of Black Mountain.

1950 Oct

Minister approves boundary of Gardens recomended by Surveyor General.

1951 May

Pryor proposes site and area for Jervis Bay and Mt Gingera Annexes.

1951 Oct

400 trees planted at Jervis Bay Annexe on New South Wales south coast.

1952 Jan

Approval for alpine Annexe at Mt Gingera from Secretary Dept of Interior.

1958

Pryor appointed Professor of Botany, Australian National University, and Edwin Gauba joins him as an assistant one year later.

1958

David Shoobridge appointed Director of Parks and Gardens.

1960 June

Dr Betty Phillips appointed first Botanist for the Gardens.

1960 Aug

Questions in the Commonwealth Senate confirm 'indegenous' nature of Gardens collection.

1964

Herbarium contained 15 000 specimens.

1965

First Index Seminum seed catalogue produced by Gardens.

1966

Herbarium, Office, Library,Gardener's Depot and 3 cottages completed in Gardens. Herbarium collection moved from temporary storage of suburban house.

1966

Dr Ross Robbins (from NZ) appointed first Curator of Gardens, but after five months accepts position at University of PNG.

1967 May

John Wrigley appointed Curator of Gardens to replace Robbins.

1967 Sept

Gardens open to public for first time. (27/9/67)

1967

Construction of initial Nursery buildings and bays.

1967

Fencing completed around Gardens boundary.

1969

Construction of first two glasshouses at Nursery.

1970

Horticultural Research Laboratory added to Herbarium/Office building.

1970 Oct

Official opening of Gardens by Prime Minister John Gorton. (20/10/70)

1971

First edition of Gardens' annual publication Growing Native Plants.

1973 Dec

Dr Betty Phillips retires as head of Herbarium due to ill health.

1974 Jan

Arthur Court appointed to head Herbarium.

1974

New Herbarium and botanists' offices completed.

1978 Dec

'Canberra Botanic Gardens' re-named 'National Botanic Gardens'. (21/12/78)

1979 July

Dr Robert Boden appointed Director of National Botanic Gardens.

1979

Aboriginal Trail established in its present form with logo and photometal interpretive signs installed

1980 April

First plantings in newly completed Rock Garden.

1980 Sept

Opening of N T Burbidge Memorial Amphitheatre to honour the late Dr Nancy Burbidge, a prominent Australian botanist.

1980 Sept

Production of first video film introducing the Gardens to visitors.

1981

Last Index Seminum seed catalogue produced.

1981 Jan

The Kiosk, the Gardens first substantial food and drink outlet opens.

1981 Aug

International Association of Botanic Gardens (IABG). conference hosted by Gardens.

1981 Dec

John Wrigley retires as Curator of the Gardens.

1982 July

Opening of Banksia Centre, a special facility for people with disabilities, by the Prime Minister's wife Mrs Tammie Fraser.

1982 Sept

Jim Armstrong appointed Curator of Gardens to replace John Wrigley.

1984

Start made to transfer the record data of the living plant collection from index-cards to electronic storage on computer.

1984 May

'National Botanic Gardens' re-named 'Australian National Botanic Gardens' (15/5/84)

1984 May

Gardens completes first overseas exhibit at the International Garden Festival at Liverpool, UK.

1985 Nov

Opening of Visitor Information Centre by Prince and Princess of Wales.

1985 Dec

Gov. Gen. approved transfer of Gardens from Dept Territories to Dept Arts, Heritage & Environment.(12/12/85) Staff at time of transfer: 83; (public servants:42; industrials: 41); Salaries: $1,855,922. Operation costs (not staff) at time of transfer: $901,013.

1986 Nov

Announcement of formation and first meetingof first ANBG Advisory Committee, appointed by Minister.

1988

Start of data capture from CBG Herbarium labels.

1989 April

Robert Boden retires as Director of Gardens. (6/4/89) Jim Armstrong and Arthur Court also leave the Gardens at this time.

1989 Dec

Announcement of ANBG for nomination to Interim List of National Estate. (8/12/89)

1990

200 000 specimens in CBG Herbarium.

1990 March

Roger Hnatiuk appointed Director of ANBG. (26/3/90)

1990 July

Gardens transferred from Dept of Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (DASETT) portfolio to Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (ANPWS), a statutory authority. (1/7/90)

1990 Sept

Inaugural public meeting of the Friends of the ANBG. (2/9/90)

1990 Oct

Official launch of Friends of ANBG by Lindsay Pryor at Biota'90 open days celebrations. (14/10/90)

1991 March

`Protective Custody' endangered plant conference hosted by ANBG (4-8/3/91)

1991 May

ANBG listed on the Register of the National Estate. (14/5/91)

1991 Sept

Govenor General proclaims ANBG a reserve under ANPWS Act. [Gazettal] (10/9/91)

1991 Sept

Establishment of `Australian Network for Plant Conservation' (ANPC) at Gardens.

1992 Feb

First intake of Voluntary Guides start 10-week training course.

1992 April

First publication of Musci Australasiae Exsiccati by CBG Cryptogam herbarium.

1992 May

NPWC Act 1975 ammended to include definition of botanic gardens and objectives. (7/5/92)

1992 May

David Kay takes over as Director Biodiversity for ANPWS and hence becomes Gardens Director. (25/5/92)

1992 May

First meeting of second ANBG Advisory Committee, Marion Blackwell elected Chairperson. (28/5/92)

1992 Oct

Publication of souvenir guide book for Gardens.

1992 Dec

First intake of students under CBG Herbarium Intenship Scheme.

1993 Feb

Memorandum signed to establish the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research (3/2/93)

1993 June

ANPWS name changed to Australian Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA). (1/6/93)

1994 Dec

Tim Richmond takes over as Director 'Parks South' for ANCA and hence becomes Gardens Director. (1/12/94)

1996 Nov

Australian Nature Conservation Agency ceases to exist, repaced by the Biodiversiy Group of 'Environment Australia'within the Dept of Environment, Sport and Territories'. (18/11/96)

1997 Sept

The newly paved Main Path is opened as a 'no-steps' loop for visitors around the lower parts of the Gardens. (26/9/97)

1998 Feb

Initiated 'Explainer Program' for the Education Unit, guiding students around the Gardens.

1999 April

Tim Richmond retires as Director, replaced by John Hicks. (9/4/99)

1999 Oct

Ducrou Pavilion opened on Eucalypt Lawn. (15/10/99)

2000 April

New 10 year agreement signed to maintain the joint management of the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research by ANBG and CSIRO. (14/4/00)

2000 Oct

Robin Nielsen starts as Director of the ANBG under a new management structure. (12/10/00)

2001 Oct

A range of advanced palms planted in the Rainforest Gully, a gift of the Friends of ANBG. (26/10/01)

2002 Jan

Second 'Management Plan for ANBG' in Commonwealth Gazette No.GN 1, 9 January 2002. (9/2/02)

2002 Oct

Opening of new northern extension to Rock Garden . (27/10/02)

2003 May

Launch of the Fungi web site, sponsored by Friends of ANBG. (8/5/03)

2004 April

First Public Art Program work, 'Sentinels' sculputural bollards by Simon Taylor, dedicaced. (2/4/04)

2004 June

Official opening of new Nursery at northern edge of Gardens by Senator Gary Humphries. (18/6/04)

2004 July

ANBG added to Commonwealth Heritage List recognised by EPBC Act . (14/7/04)

2005 May

Signs interpreting the Sydney Flora Section of Gardens opened by Parl. Sec.Greg Hunt. (20/5/05)