30 years - many more to come!

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Friends 30-year anniversary logo

This year is the 30th Anniversary of the Friends of Australian National Botanic Gardens, and it is delightful that 43 Friends have been members since 1990.

Membership and donations to the Friends Public Fund in that time have contributed more than $1.6 million in financial support for the ANBG, in projects and specialist equipment. Recent projects include the “Find a Plant” App (https://www.anbg.gov.au/fap), and the Banksia Garden to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Gardens ($120,000).

There are more projects under way such as the Norfolk Island project ($15,000 per year for 3 years), and buying new microscopes for the education of school students and other visitors in the Banksia Centre. The Friends are keen to contribute to major new additions to the Gardens including the Sir Ian Potter Conservatory, the new National Seed Bank, and improvements now being planned for the lawn below the Cafe and Ellis Rowan Building.

The Gardens are looking beautiful this spring after a year of smoke haze, hail storm and COVID-19. Spring is also the time when Friends memberships are due. We thank the Friends who have already renewed their memberships and are enjoying its benefits in these beautiful and popular Gardens.

We need your support to continue our assistance to the Gardens into the future – so if you have not yet renewed your membership please consider doing so. If you are not a member of the Friends of the ANBG then please apply to join to take advantage of the many benefits.

Dr Judy West, Minister Sussan Ley and Max Bourke AO at Banksia Gardens openingPlanting Banksias - Photo: Helen MusaBushwalkers toast the Bushland Precinct lookout - Photo: Matt PlaistoweWalkers in the Bushland Precinct - Photo:Linda Beveridge
Video wall in the Theatrette lobby - Photo: David MoreFind-a-Plant app on site - Photo: David MoreConservatory - exterior lighting concept drawingConservatory interior design drawing

Some of the projects and activities supported by the Friends:
(from top left) Opening of the Banksia Garden; Planting Banksias; Toasting the Bushland Precinct lookout; Walkers in the Bushland Precinct;
Video wall in the Theatrette lobby; the Find-A-Plant app in use onsite; Conservatory concept for exterior lighting; Conservatory interior design drawing.

 

1 Dr Judy West, Minister Sussan Ley and former Friends President Max Bourke AO at the opening of the Banksia Garden (photo: David More)

2 Planting banksia in the garden that is now ready for walkers (photo: Helen Musa)

3 Friends celebrating a Bushland Walk (with mineral water) and handy notes (photo: Matt Plaistowe)

4 Friends enjoying a guided Bushland Walk (photo: Linda Beveridge)

5 Video Wall in the Theatrette lobby (photo: David More)

6 The “Find a Plant” App provides access to the Living Collection database on any web browser, including mobile phones (photo: David More)

7 Exterior lighting concept for the Sir Ian Potter National Conservatory (source: ANBG)

8 Interior design concept for the Sir Ian Potter National Conservatory (source: ANBG)