Archived news

An historical overview of Australian botanic gardens by Richard Aitken

Richard Aitken has been invited, on the recommendation of Tim Entwisle, by the Commonwealth Heritage Forum to give an illustrated lecture as part of its ‘Botanical Gardens of the Commonwealth and their Built Heritage’ series.His lecture, entitled ‘An historical overview of Australian botanic gardens’, will be live streamed next Wednesday, 25 May 2022, at 8 30pm AEST, as per the accompanying link: https://www.commonwealthheritage.org/events.html#upcoming

The stream will be live but we believe the lecture will also be available afterwards on YouTube via the CHF website. The lecture is free of charge, but viewers must book via the link to participate in the live stream. The evening timing has been chosen to accommodate a wide variety of international time zones.

Thursday, 19 May 2022

Acacia howittii - 2021 Public Choice Award in ”Tokonoma” or display space

2022 Exhibition of Australian Plants as Bonsai

Canberra Bonsai Society and the Australian National Botanic Gardens are pleased to present the 2022 Exhibition of Australian Plants as Bonsai, which will be held in the Crosbie Morrison Building, ANBG on 26-27 February 2022.

Friday, 21 January 2022

View of the new deck from the re-aligned Main Path (photo: Jill More)

Friends Lawn rolls out

The new Friends Lawn alongside the expanded cafe deck stretches out invitingly - but is still behind barriers while the new turf establishes itself!

Thursday, 30 December 2021

2021 Annual General Meeting - update and papers

A reminder to all members of the Friends that our 33rd Annual General Meeting is fast approaching.

Friday 29 October 2021 at 3.15 pm for 3.30pm at the Ian Wark Theatre, Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, ACTON

The Ian Wark Theatre is now accessible through the front entrance of the Shine Dome, and Friends may use the main car park.

Masks must be worn. Participants are required to use the Check In CBR app and show a printed or digital copy of your vaccination record when entering.

Dr Judy West, ANBG Executive Director, will be our guest speaker.

The agenda and meeting papers can be downloaded from these links. Please ensure that you check these, as we will not be providing hard copies to everyone at the meeting.

Sunday, 17 October 2021

2021 Annual General Meeting - change of date

The 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Friends of the ANBG will be held on 29 October 2021, at 3.15 pm for 3.30pm.

Ian Wark Theatre at the Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton ACT OR via Zoom, if COVID restrictions prevent assembly.

Should a Zoom meeting be required, details will be published on the Friends’ website and in the Friends’ e-newsletter.

Wednesday, 29 September 2021

2021 Schools Photographic Competition – cancelled

The 2021 Schools Photographic Competition has been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Sadly, the extended ACT lockdown and the closure of the Gardens have made it impossible for young photographers to visit the ANBG, and for the competition organisers to arrange for the judging, awards and exhibition of prizewinners.

The Friends understand how disappointing this decision will be for students, schools, and the wider community of photographers and supporters of the Gardens. We remain determined to hold the competition as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

Wednesday, 01 September 2021

A LOTE team enjoying a working fieldtrip in the Australian Alps

LOTE team May and July fieldwork sessions (all places taken)

The Living On The Edge (LOTE) project is researching the thermal tolerance of selected native plants, with financial support by the Friends. The opportunities for members of Friends to join the LOTE team in their fieldwork sessions at Charlottes Pass over 4-15 May, and in arid lands at Gundabooka National Park (northwestern NSW) over 1-16 July, have now been fully subscribed; see more details.

For those with more general interest in the project, Prof. Adrienne Nicotra will present the Thursday Talk to Friends on 15 April.

Tuesday, 16 March 2021

Image of Symbiosis dancers in the Gardens

Enlighten Festival at the Gardens

This year's Enlighten Festival event at the ANBG, Symbiosis, is accompanied by free daytime guided walks on the theme of symbiotic plant relationships in nature.

Thursday, 25 February 2021

Summer break for the Membership team

The Membership Team volunteers are taking a well-earned break over the Christmas / New Year period.

The last applications / renewals will be picked up from the Gardens at 9.30am, Tuesday 22^nd December.
Application/renewals will not be picked up again until 9.30am, Tuesday 5^th January 2021.
Items received by email after Monday 21^st December will not be actioned until Tuesday 5^th January.

Friday, 11 December 2020

Growing Friends Spring plant sale

Due to the difficulties of maintaining COVID-safe personal spacing and sanitising, Growing Friends will not be holding a Spring public plant sale this year. When it is possible to run another public sale, the details will be widely advertised.

Wednesday, 07 October 2020