AusLeisure

A booming local population and a list of major improvements are being attributed to record visitation numbers at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan - reinforcing the significance of Australia’s largest botanic garden as one of Sydney’s most vital public spaces.

New data has revealed that more than 400,000 visitors visited the western Sydney Garden over the past year alone, and over the past six years, the Garden has surpassed its previous 23 years’ visitation figure of 1.6 million by a massive 500,000. The number is projected to increase dramatically as urban development continues to swell at its borders.

Commenting on the rising visitation, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan Curator Manager John Siemon stated “we often talk about pressures for green spaces, parks and gardens in inner Sydney, but the reality is that in western Sydney, the demand is just as great.

“The Macarthur region is pitted as one of Sydney’s fastest growing regions, predicted to hit 500,000 by 2036, and we are increasingly seeing major urban and residential developments attracting new residents to the outer suburbs here.

“We are a native species botanic garden but we are also a valuable green space and an open space for community enjoyment. With this knowledge, we have invested a great deal in facilities and visitor services in recent years, and it is clearly paying off.

"This year we opened the Australian PlantBank science facility for the very first time on weekends in autumn, and we have focussed on growing existing community events, such as our annual AnnanROMA Food and Wine Festival, which this year had an impressive record attendance of around 11,000.

“People need opportunities to connect with nature and it is key to what we provide the community. We have 416 hectares of more than 2,000 native plants and tree varieties on site for people to explore.”

 The Australian Botanic Garden is open 365 days a year and is offering nature-play themed Bush Rangers and Kids Vs Wild programs for the upcoming school holidays, science tours in August and a host of walks and horticultural displays to enjoy.

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