Welcome to the Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens

When you come to the gardens you will notice that this 15-hectare site is a long way from being fully developed.

Community Funded

The botanic garden is community funded and operated. It is not a council or government funded garden.

Development proceeds according to funds, which are generally sourced through grants. We rely heavily on donations and our fundraising campaigns.

As a community funded garden, it is for the community to use and we welcome community involvement and support.

Our Progress

The 15 hectare site was leased from the Council in 2015.

Since then we have developed parts of the garden according to our concept plan prepared by landscape architects Taylor Cullity Lethlean.

The design of the garden reflects the seasons, so there will be something to see all year as the seasons change. The design takes into account our changing climate, with the garden being managed in an environmentally responsible manner.

Areas developed to date include the Birch grove with over 20 different types of silver birch, the Oak Rondell surrounded by narrow upright oaks and hedged with weeping boxwoods, the dwarf dogwoods with vibrant winter coloured stems which will become a haven for small birds and the autumn perennial flower border leading to the playground.

Our Future

Projects ahead include the Education centre and the future Conference and Function Centre. These facilities will financially support the gardens into the future.

Our current fundraising campaign is for the Education Centre. We anticipate starting on this project during 2020/21.

The vision for this garden includes other major strategic development. The proposed conference and function centre will be a centre piece to the garden itself and will complement all the activities within the garden.

Upcoming garden works include a network of paths across the garden which will open up new areas for development. The eastern precinct will continue to be developed with the establishment of a new Endangered Ecological area around and next to the Ponds of Reflection and the planting of an endemic wattle collection.

Come along and watch us grow