National Herbarium of NSW to move to Western Sydney

The NSW Government has announced that the National Herbarium of NSW is being moved to Mount Annan in Western Sydney, to be located in a new facility that will house 1.4 million plant specimens - including those collected by Captain Cook’s botanists during his 1770 voyage to the Pacific.

The planned new mega-herbarium will be built at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan as a result of a NSW budget allocation of $60 million to the new Centre of Innovation in Plant Sciences at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.

Moving from Sydney’s Botanical Gardens, the new facility will be the nation’s premier botanic science research facility – adding to Western Sydney’s emergence as an important scientific and innovation hub.

The botanical collections that will be held at Mount Annan are worth $200 million and include precious specimens collected by Captain Cook’s acclaimed botanists, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander.

The existing National Herbarium site at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will be revitalised and turned into a new science, horticulture and education centre, showcasing the work of the Gardens’ world-class experts.

Announcing the plan, NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton stated “moving the National Herbarium to Mount Annan will create more jobs for Western Sydney and further enhance the region’s reputation as the heart of Australia’s science and technology industries.”

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet added “the National Herbarium of NSW collection is of national and international significance.

“It represents part of the documented history of the scientific and cultural exploration of NSW and Australia.

“It is appropriate that, as we acknowledge the 250th anniversary of the voyage of Captain Cook, we provide world class facilities to showcase our collection, such as the Banks and Solander specimens, and even more recent discoveries such as the Wollemi Pine.”

Executive Director of Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands Kim Ellis added “this historic investment by the NSW Government will ensure this state is recognised as a world-leader in vital plant sciences.

“Without plants, we’d have no food, no medicines, no beer, no oxygen – put simply, there’d be no life on Earth. The scientists working here in Western Sydney will be tackling some of the most critical challenges facing humanity today.”

Detailed planning is currently underway to define the requirements for the new Herbarium, which will complement the PlantBank and the Botanic Gardens, will commence shortly.

The successful design and contractor team will then work with the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to develop the design for the Western Sydney Centre, with the final concept design to be unveiled later in the year.

Construction will commence in 2019.

Planning for the rejuvenation of the current Herbarium at the Sydney Garden will also commence this year.

Images: Artist's concept for the new Herbarium (top), botanists at the National Herbarium of NSW at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (middle) and historic storage at the National Herbarium of NSW (below).

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