The Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The Royal Botanic Gardens have held a special place in the life of Melbourne since their establishment in 1846. This illustrated life and times of the gardens paints a picture of the land before white settlement, then tells the stories of its plants, buildings and characters throughout its history.

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The Royal Botanic Gardens holds a special place in the life of Melbourne - and has done since it became one of the first public gardens established in Australia, in 1846. This lavishly illustrated life and times of the Gardens paints a picture of the land before white settlement, then tells the stories of its plants, its buildings and the characters throughout its history whose genius - and foibles - have shaped the way the Gardens look today. Deborah Morris's story focuses on the people - the gardeners, the directors, the people who have lived in the gardens and the scientists engaged in a range of fascinating tasks, from propagating endangered species to identifying rare plants. Greg Elms contributes a photo essay, taken over the course of a year, of people interacting with the gardens over the four seasons - Sunday afternoons, performances, special events and all the secret nooks and crannies each visitor remembers.