Proposed new visitor entry for Hamilton Gardens

Plans for a proposed new Visitor Entry Precinct at Hamilton Gardens have been unveiled.

The new Hamilton Gardens Visitor Entry Precinct project, which includes a new Visitor Centre and enhancements to Hamilton Gardens Café, will transform how visitors are welcomed to the world-class Hamilton Gardens.

Along with a clear, secure entry point into the Enclosed Gardens and better flow, there’ll be a new retail space and range of amenities expected of a modern facility.

Advising that the new Entry Precinct will create a sense of arrival which reflects the gardens loved by visitors from near and far, Hamilton Gardens Director, Lucy Ryan commented “we need a new Visitor Centre to manage the volume of visitors the gardens attracts during the peak summer months and to ensure a rich welcome that complements our world-class gardens. The Visitor Centre will also enable the processing of paid entry into the gardens.”

Hamilton City Council’s 2021-2031 Long-Term Plan established a fee of $10 for non-Hamiltonians over the age of 16 years old to access the Enclosed Gardens from the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Everyone, no matter their location, will continue to have free access to the outer gardens which includes Roger’s Rose Garden, Rhododendron Lawn, Camellia Garden, children’s playground, Turtle Lake and Hamilton Gardens Café.

Hamilton Mayor, Paula Southgate noted “our gardens are internationally recognised and award-winning. I’m pleased Hamiltonians will continue to have free access to this fabulous city asset.”

The design for the new Visitor Centre utilises part of the Hamilton Gardens Pavilion which includes upgrades to improve the hirer’s experience, provide more flexibility and options for bookable spaces, and increase their use.

Mayor Southgate added “there are limited options as to where the new Visitor Centre can go. It needs to be next to the entrance to the Enclosed Gardens but can’t take any space from the Enclosed Gardens as they are the main attraction that people from all corners of the world come to see.”

The Visitor Entry Precinct Project is part of the $12 million Hamilton Gardens Development Programme which also includes four new gardens: the Ancient Egyptian Garden which opened in May 2022 and the Medieval, Pasifika and Baroque Gardens which are currently under development. Council is seeking $5 million in external funding towards this programme.

Other features include clear links to the café, toilets, drinking fountains and the new retail space as well as providing improved amenity and safety measures such as security cameras, a public address system, data and Wi-Fi, power, safety lighting and automated bollards. Visitors will exit the Enclosed Gardens via the retail space.