This month, Grampians Gariwerd endemic botanic gardens opened their gates. This is a big victory for environmental protection and for community input. Located in the foothills of Victoria’s Grampians mountain range, or Gariwerd, this ambitious project encompasses 16 hectares. It took a passionate core team 14 years to realize that vision. Jill Burness directs the native flora gardens to showcase the fine variety of Australia’s native plants. They are a very important partner in efforts to restore and connect ecosystems.
The gardens feature one of the largest collections of 500 native Australian plants. While you’re at it, look for 20 of the 40 species known to occur only in the Grampians region. Pippa Mott, the chief executive of the gardens, expressed enthusiasm about the project’s potential, stating that it serves as both a botanical haven and a community hub.
A Unique Fusion of Nature and Art
The Grampians Gariwerd endemic botanic gardens include an environmental art gallery, creating a unique venue that combines artistic expression with natural beauty. This innovative approach represents an Australian first. The gallery just opened on July 5, kicking off the inaugural exhibition “End & Being” by Jacobus Capone. This innovative exhibition takes a poetic approach to understanding climate change with pre-recorded, digital performance art filmed on the glaciers of Mont Blanc in France.
Mott elaborated on the significance of the gallery within the gardens: “Obviously, we are a ticketed destination. We have a retail space, we have a cafe, but we are essentially a not-for-profit at the end of the day, and so we hope that what we’re doing inspires people.”
The gardens to delight the eyes as well as instruct the mind, deepening understanding of urgent environmental challenges today.
A Focus on Conservation and Community
Aside from its artistic offerings, the gardens serve as an important site for conservation efforts. They can serve as a seed bank to help revegetate the Grampians after bushfires. Burness highlighted this important function, stating, “If a bushfire came through here … we could duplicate these plants again from Cranbourne.”
This forward-thinking strategy is indicative of the gardens’ dedication to protecting and sharing Australia’s rich biodiversity. Mott emphasized that stage one of the art centre and the endemic garden is just the beginning, signaling further developments and initiatives aimed at fostering community engagement and environmental stewardship.
Mott added, “So it’s the perfect location to explore … and create a community hub where we can celebrate our nature together.”
Accessibility and Future Plans
She wants this new creation to be a place that everyone from the community can enjoy and use. Kids get in free, and adult tickets are $12 to $18. This tiered pricing strategy is designed to help remove barriers for visitors of all backgrounds to discover the natural beauty and educational experiences awaiting them.
The gardens are doing incredibly well and changing every day! Mott emphasized the role of philanthropy, grants, and sponsorships to ensure that they can continue powering their operations. “[Environmental art is] a really broad genre and it’s not a new thing,” she noted, highlighting their commitment to blending art with environmental education.
