Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Annual Report 2018-19

Brilliant Sun-orchid (Thelymitra mackibbinii)
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Construction of three new Wellbeing Gardens
Propagation of 17,000 plants for Australian
Garden precincts at Cranbourne Gardens
Renovation and replanting of the Red Sand
Garden
Hosted 13 global botanic organisations at the
inaugural Climate Change Summit to initiate
and support a Climate Change Alliance of
Botanic Gardens
Installation of 30 hectares of ecological
fencing to protect native plants from animals,
biodiversity threats and vehicle traffic
150 tonnes of plant material harvested from
the lake to improve water quality and support
a healthy water system
Largest tree removal in the Gardens’ history,
Hesperocyparis macrocarpa, after storm
damage(removal involved six days of
climbing and two days of crane work by the
arboriculture team)
Development of the Australian Garden living
plant collection with the addition of over 200
species
Upgrade of 500 m2 of paths and 200 m of
kerb, and reconstruction of boathouse deck
for Fire Gardens
The Nursery supported Plant Science
research by managing over 80 individual
species for scientific study and propagated
400 Discaria nitida for conservation purposes
for DELWP
Completion of conservation collection
plans for six regional botanic gardens and
commenced plant production for the Care for
the Rare project
Major infrastructure projects completed
including 5,700 m2 of roadworks and 790 m2
of Australian Garden path upgrades
Continued growth and maintenance of 25
representatives of the only five remaining
populations of Olearia passerinoides subsp
glutescens until 2025
Continued maintenance and development of
ex-situ terrestrial orchid collection
Translocation of Diuris fragrantissima in
Sunshine (in collaboration with DELWP and
the Australian Native Orchid Society)
5,690 m2 of roads within Melbourne Gardens
were upgraded with asphalt overlay.
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS BOARD VICTORIA — ANNUAL REPORT 2018–19 53