Royal Botanic Garden Sydney to open 'cathedral of plants' in its bicentenary year

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has launched a program of events to mark its upcoming bicentennial year while also previewing its new horticultural display centre, The Calyx.

Described as a “cathedral of plants” and “a jewel in the garden,” the new building is part of a major refurbishment of the Botanic Garden’s Arc glasshouse, completed in 1987. The associated pyramid glasshouse, a well-known enclosure that opened in 1972, has been demolished to make way for the new building.

Set to be operational from March next year and officially opened in June, The Calyx’s launch is part of a planned a year-long series of events in 2016 to celebrate the Botanic Garden’s bicentenary.

Promising a "spectacular surprise" to kick off the 200-year anniversary as part of Sydney’s New Year's Eve fireworks, Royal Botanic Gardens Executive Director Kim Ellis that the events and new displays aim to connect more people with the gardens in 2016.

Speaking at an event to launch the program, Ellis stated “people just don't know about the Botanic Gardens.

"If you think you know the Royal Botanic Gardens, you don't.

“You need to make 2016 your year to discover the gardens. The biggest outcome we can achieve by the end of 2016 is for people to really understand the gardens.

“We are the oldest scientific institution in the southern hemisphere and the oldest botanic garden in the southern hemisphere."

"No one knows that the Garden Palace was here for three years and burnt down and that so much of Sydney was linked to that facility.

“No one knows that we have an amazing pathology lab here that's working on issues of food security and biodiversity and actually helped solve the Graeme Thorne kidnapping case in the 1960s."

Scientists identified two plants on a rug in which the body was wrapped which helped lead detectives to a property rented by the killer which had the two plants growing in the garden.

Other attractions include an interpretation of the Garden Palace by artist John Kaldor, lighting of the gardens during Vivid and a world-record attempt, the D'VineRipe, the longest tomato lunch.

The pathology lab is to be open to the public to enable observation of research work "supporting human life as it adapts to changing climates".

Ellis added “a lot of this is just hidden stuff. We have one of the Banksia specimens collected by Joseph Banks in 1770. We have got this remarkable slice of Australian heritage that is here but just isn't on display.

"We have got 1.2 million specimens in the herbarium that aren't accessible to the public. By having these events and having them on display in 2016 we will get people connected with the garden."

Designed by PTW and McGregor Coxall, The Calyx replaces an earlier proposal for the site, a ‘Biome’, which the NSW Government had announced in 2013.

According to a Royal Botanic Garden spokesperson “the original design was amended once full scope of costing was completed. The new design better met the needs of what we are trying to achieve.”

As Australia’s oldest continuously operating scientific institution, the Garden has been at the heart of Sydney’s horticultural, cultural, educational and scientific life for 200 years.

Making further comment on its history while looking forward to 2016, Ellis added “the Garden was a vital part of Sydney’s life in 1816, and nothing has changed today.

“Throughout 2016 we are going to celebrate an amazing 200 years’ worth of history, and revolutionise the way the community will view the Garden.

”The program will also see the Garden leap into the 21st century digitally, with a cutting-edge new website, social platforms, blog, and an extension of its eLearning programs that are enabling regional communities to benefit from the Garden’s expertise through eConference facilities. Through this we’ve even delivered education programs into China!”

In the Garden new seasonal plantings will feature throughout the year and a social media campaign will be launched to capture the rich history and memories from our diverse community.

The Garden is already among the top 10 tourist destinations in Australia and is recognised as one of the top 10 most beautiful botanic gardens in the world.

For more information on the 200th Birthday Program and to view the full 2016 Event Calendar visit www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au 

Images (from top): The Calyx, Kim Ellis explaining the Botanic Gardens' science, guests at the launch event for the bicentennial celebrations and The Calyx by night.

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