Bendigo Botanic Gardens (White Hills)
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Established in 1857 the Bendigo Botanic Gardens are almost as old as Bendigo itself with the site appearing on a 1854 plan of the White Hills township just a couple of years after gold was first discovered in Bendigo in 1851.
The Gardens are Bendigo's first public gardens and were included on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2001 due to their historical, architectural, scientific, botanical, aesthetic and social significance.
The Gardens are composed of:
Heritage Gardens
Established in 1857 the Bendigo Botanic Gardens, White Hills is one of regional Victoria's earliest Botanic Gardens. In the ensuing years considerable improvements were undertaken and by 1861 the gardens were laid out, fenced and planted at a cost of 642 pounds. The creek bed running through the land had been transformed into an artificial lake and the gardens themselves were assuming an attractive appearance.
By 1870, 600 Blue Gums, 443 Pine and other exotic trees had been planted and the gardens also included a hot house, rotunda, a collection of over two hundred roses and a zoo complete with monkeys, koalas and birds. Much of the present layout of the gardens is due to curator Samuel Gadd who rejuvenated the gardens between 1873 and 1903.
Garden for the Future
Opening in April 2018, the Garden for the Future features over 30,000 trees and shrubs, 4,700 square metres of lawn and a large shelter/stage building with toilet facilities.
There are over 40 small picnic lawns and a large fun and fantasy lawn which doubles as an event space. The garden also features a grassed amphitheatre for outdoor performances and a number of semi-intimate gathering spaces for functions, as well as a promenade complete with 133 metres of timber seating that can be used for markets and other events.
Larni Garingilang
Larni Garingilang means home/place of growth in Dja Dja Wurrung language. The Dja Dja Wurrung People are the traditional custodians of Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country). Established in 2022, Larni Garingilang offers opportunities to connect with one another and learn and engage with the local ecology, land, water and flora of Djandak.
Featuring local indigenous flora, the design of the garden was inspired by the cracked earth and mullock heaps resulting from Bendigo's gold mining era.
Larni Garingilang features four distinct areas:
Map of Gardens
Points of Interest are:
1. Significant trees of the Bendigo Botanic Gardens
The Bendigo Botanic Gardens features an eclectic mix of exotic and native trees, with many original 19th century plantings still existing. Six of these trees are listed with the Heritage Council of Victoria and two are also on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees.
2. Play space
The play space features a series of enchanting garden spaces for children to explore using all of their senses. Visitors can explore the secret garden, the tree house, the roly-poly lawn, the vege patch and climb the fort.
3. Cottage Gardens of the Victorian Goldfields
This collection brings together many plants from the early gardens of the Victorian goldfields era, some rarely seen in modern gardens. Only plants known to have been available at the time are included.
4. Arch of Triumph and Entry Promenade
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The Arch of Triumph was erected in 1925 as a result of Local fundraising efforts by the people of White Hills and lists the names of 65 local servicemen who served in World War 1. The arch is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register and stands as a permanent memorial to our brave local soldiers.
5. Billabong
The billabong is the only remaining section of the Bendigo Creek still in its original alignment. Ongoing revegetation works continue to restore the native creek tine grassy woodland flora of the area. Many species of reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals use this area as a sanctuary and feeding ground.
6. Edwardian Garden and Picnic Pavilion
The restored picnic pavilion dates from around 1901 and can seat up to 100 people. It is nestled within an Edwardian era styled garden complete with bridges, hedges, flowers and foliage set against a backdrop of native vegetation which surrounds the billabong.
7. Habitat Garden
The habitat garden is filled with Australian Plants that attract wildlife to the area and provide a range of ecological niches for them to live in.
8. Samuel Gadd Centre
Named after former Curator Samuel Gadd, the 'house in the garden' is the garden's administration centre and home to the Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens.
9. Dhelkunya Buluk
This is a wetland area reflecting the connection to the Bendigo Creek.
10. Djimbai-tjarrang
This area is for outdoor learning and to connect with the natural environment.
11. Wat-pu-tjaara
An area for gathering and connecting with each other, land and its flora.
12. Balitj Murrun
The mound represents a remnant mullock heap from Bendigo's mining history.
13. Around Australia Garden
A collection of plants sourced from around Australia.
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14. Fun & Fantasy Garden
A sculpted grassed amphitheatre surrounded by an eclectic mix of exotic and local plant species including some rare and unusual specimens.
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15. Around the World Garden
Collections of plants sourced from around the world including the America's, Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean and Africa.
16. Stage
The stage allows for a range of outdoor performances including concerts and cinema and is capable of hosting audiences of up to 2,000 people.
Former Bird Aviary
A bird aviary was constructed in 1987 and decommissioned in 2024. From 1862 a variety of animals and birds were displayed in the gardens as part of the acclimatisation movement of the late 1800's.
Animal exhibits included monkeys, deer, guinea pigs, emus, kangaroos, wallabies and rabbits. There was also a range of bird exhibits featuring cockatoos, pheasants, peacocks and budgerigars.
The history of the former aviary is honoured through a garden on the former site which was created in 2024 to attract native birds to the site. The garden proudly features the same alignment of the aviary's original path and floriferous native plants have been planted to encourage indigenous birds to the site.
Omari Bendigo Cafe-restaurant
Omari Bendigo offers breakfast, brunch, coffee, lunch and dinner, dine-in and takeaway.
Opening Hours:
7:30am to 9pm (Daylight Savings Time)
7:30am to 6pm (EST)
Cost:
Free
Review:
A fantastic location with a large range of interesting elements. The Heritage area has a large Arch of Triumph entrance, labyrinth, lavender garden, collection of interesting trees and bushes (many of them labelled), billabong.
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There is a lovely Play Space with an Alice in Wonderland theme which includes a small water play area with a hand pump.
The areas which have been added, the Garden for the Future and Larni Garingilang are equally delightful.
There are information boards scattered about, cafe beside a pond, toilets, large pavilion, water tap, BBQs and picnic tables.
The Gardens have gates which are locked outside the opening times. Bikes are allowed but please ride slowly.
Access for Dogs:
Keep dogs on leash at all times.
Photos:
Location
577-559 Napier Street, White Hills 3551 Map
✆ (03) 5434 6000
Email Enquiry
Web Links
→ www.bendigobotanicgardens.com.au
→ Bendigo Botanic Gardens Map and Visitor Guide (PDF)
→ Bendigo Botanic Gardens on Facebook
→ 100 Free Water Play Spaces in Melbourne and Regional Victoria
→ Omari Bendigo
