Improvements at Australia’s largest botanic garden drives record visitation

Major improvements and the dropping of the entrance fee have contributed greatly to record visitor numbers to the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan - meaning Australia’s largest botanic garden is becoming one of Sydney’s most important public spaces.

More than 335,000 visitors visited the Garden last year, with growth projected to continue to increase substantially as further residential and urban development comes online around its borders.

Commenting on the rise in visitation, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, Curator Manager, John Siemon stated “there is a lot said about the pressures on green spaces, parks and gardens in inner-Sydney, but in western Sydney the demands are just as great.

“Around one-tenth of the entire population of Australia lives in western Sydney, and increasingly we are seeing major urban and residential developments in these areas bringing more residents to Sydney’s outer suburbs.”

“While we are a native species botanic garden, we also provide precious green space and open space for the community. In recent years we have invested significantly in visitor services and facilities upgrades, creation of a new entranceway garden, opened the Australian PlantBank, launched a new website, and undertaken a number of key conservation programs around the Cumberland Plain Woodland and the eradication of weed and pest species.”

“We have almost completed a $3.6 million upgrade of our water mains system across the Garden, constructed an extension to the mountain bike trail, and have been working with the NSW Government on the creation of a new regional recreational trail.”

The Garden features more than 2,000 species of native plants across its 416 hectares, with plantings designed to take visitors on an exploration of Australia's unique plant life with the Connections Garden being the premier Garden within the site. The 4.5 hectare Connections Garden is a roofless museum demonstrating the interconnectedness of people and the natural world.

Siemon adds “the connection between people and nature is fundamental to what we provide the community, and there is a great appetite in the community to enjoy the Garden in a variety of ways. Our education and tour programs are growing, and we host a number of the region’s largest events.

“We also recognise that our visitors have needs and time pressures, so have responded by implementing longer opening hours, dropping the entry fee and last year we even trialled opening the Garden on Christmas Day, which was a great success.”

“The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan is a bit of a hidden gem in Sydney, but absolutely worth the visit.”

Images courtesy of the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust/Simone Cottrell.

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