Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney celebrates 200 years with new exhibition centre opening

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney celebrates 200 years with new exhibition centre opening
June 13, 2016

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has celebrated its 200th birthday with a community Garden Party and the opening of its new $17 million horticultural exhibition space.

The new permanent exhibition space, named The Calyx, features the largest living green wall in the southern hemisphere and will host a range of different exhibits - changing every nine months.

Opening the new exhibition space, NSW Environment Minister Mark Speakman stated “the Calyx is a fusion of art and flora and will feature themed exhibitions that address conservation and environment issues in an imaginative, accessible way.

“It is a welcome addition to our wonderful Royal Botanic Garden and to the city of Sydney as a whole.”

Founded by Governor Lachlan Macquarie on the traditional land of the Cadigal people, the Garden is Australia’s first scientific institution and botanic garden. It has and continues to be a favourite place for visitors and Sydney siders alike to come to share, to relax, to discover, and to be inspired.

Kim Ellis, Executive Director of the Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands added “the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is the oldest botanic garden in Australia, the second oldest in the southern hemisphere, and it represents Australia’s oldest living scientific institution.

“The Garden is also one of the top 10 tourist destinations in Australia for international visitors.”

Expected to attract more than 150,000 people in its first year, The Calyx’s launch exhibition Sweet Addiction – the Botanic Story of Chocolate aims to show visitors how chocolate is made – from seed to sweet treat. The exhibition will run until Easter 2017.

Key features of The Calyx include:

• A 285 metre² interior green wall featuring more than 18,000 plants 
• The pre-existing arc glasshouse, designed by renowned Australian architect Ken Woolley, retained and incorporated into the new building 
• Exhibition plants that have been grown in the Garden’s technologically advanced glasshouse or sourced from across Australia 
• Flexible indoor and outdoor gallery and function spaces

The Garden's birthday celebration included the cutting of a birthday cake, a commemorative tree planting and the Fort Denison cannon being fired twice at 1pm on 13th June to mark its significant and rich 200 year history.

1pm was selected as it was that exact moment on 13th June 1816 that ‘tools down’ was called on the completion of Mrs Macquaries Road marking the founding day of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Image: The largest green living wall in the southern hemisphere at The Calyx exhibition centre in the Royal Botanic Garden (top), the exterior of The Calyx (middle) and the 200th birthday celebration (below).

14th December 2015 - NEW PUBLICATION CHARTS THE HISTORY OF ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY

6th December 2015 - SYDNEY ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS TO OPEN ‘CATHEDRAL OF PLANTS’ IN ITS BICENTENARY YEAR

8th October 2015 - MORE THAN 39 MILLION VISITS TO NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND RESERVES IN 2014

14th August 2015 - SOLAR POWER BOOSTS ENERGY HARVESTING AT THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN SYDNEY

18th May 2015 - CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON FIRST HORTICULTURE EXHIBITION CENTRE IN SYDNEY

7th October 2014 - NEW EXECUTIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED TO GUIDE FUTURE OF SYDNEY’S BEST PARKS AND GARDENS

6th April 2014 - SYDNEY ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN UNVEILS 25-YEAR REDEVELOPMENT PLAN


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Aflex Inflatables

Aflex Inflatables are the leaders for obstacle courses, pool toys, waterparks and land-based watersides and fitness runs. They are industry leaders offering the widest range of pool, lake and beach…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Waterparks

 
 

iDwala Pty Ltd

iDwala is the Community Sports Facility Specialist offering the highest quality designs and technical expertise to Councils, Schools and Sporting Clubs looking to create sporting…

read more

Consultants / Design / Recreation / Sport / Surfaces

 
 

COMMERCIAL AQUATICS AUSTRALIA

Commercial Aquatics Australia provides aquatic solutions nationwide and is one of the largest and most experienced companies specialising in the design, construction, renovation, service, maintenance…

read more

Aquatics / Design / Play / Waterparks

 
 

@leisure Planners

@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications. We have…

read more

Consultants

 
 

revolutioniseSPORT

revolutioniseSPORT is the emerging market leader in online club management in Australia. Whether it is memberships, registrations, events, online sales or governance tools - revolutioniseSPORT is the…

read more

Recreation / Sport / Technology

 
 

HIDROPLAY

Hidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation

 
 

Polin Waterparks

Polin was founded in Istanbul in 1976, and has since grown into a leading company in the waterparks industry. Today Polin is one of the world leaders in the design, production, and installation of…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Waterparks

 
 

Active World

Since 2019, Active World's development team has been delivering a comprehensive single solution that caters to the diverse requirements of successfully operated and managed leisure centres. The…

read more

Aquatics / Billing / Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business