George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens
Free entry
Established in the 1870s to supplement the Darwin's unstable food supply, the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens’ 42 hectares showcase the flora of northern Australia and other tropical habitats around the world. Wander through monsoon forests, coastal foredunes, mangroves and open woodlands. See orchids, aroids, bromeliads and other striking foliage plants up close. There is also a great Cycad Garden. The gardens contain over 400 palm species, as well as every Boab species in the world. A self-guided walk devoted to Aboriginal plant use is a feature, explaining the traditional uses of local plants. The George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens were founded by Maurice Holtz, the first Government gardener, on the present site in 1886. Initially the gardens were established to introduce and evaluate plants for economic uses in the Northern Territory.
The plant display house contains a collection of tropical orchids, ferns, bromeliads, other exotic plants and special seasonal displays. There is a collection of about 400 species of palms and cycads, mostly in the rainforest gully which houses a waterfall and ponds, providing a setting for an established rainforest with an under story of palms, shade plants and bamboo. The Children's Evolutionary Playground is an award-winning playground that traces the changes in plant groups through time, making an enjoyable blend of science and creative art. Mangroves and other coastal plants are represented on the beach side of Gilruth Avenue, where there are self-guided walks and a boardwalk which form part of a walking track to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.
Since its establishment, the gardens have survived severe cyclones, major wildfires, and World War II. The Wesleyan Church, formerly located on the corner of Mitchell and Knuckey Streets in the city, has been restored and relocated to the gardens. The gardens now provide a window into the world of plants for enjoyment, scientific research, conservation and education.
Facilities
- Bicycle Path
- Bicycle Rack
- Car park
- Child Activities
- Access Without Assistance for the Disabled
- Parking for the Disabled
- Toilet facilities for the Disabled
- First aid equipment
- Picnic Area
- Public Telephone
- Public Toilet
- Shaded Area
- Visitor Information Centre
