Australian botanic gardens are a treasure trove of native plantsand the history of Australia's botanic gardens is one of the most fascinating in the world. When you visit a garden in Australia, you are almost guaranteed to see native flora and fauna, as well as plants that have been imported from other countries.
The history of Australian gardens is entwined with the history of Australia itself. The first European settlers who arrived in Australia brought with them seeds from their home countries, which they planted in their new home and began to cultivate. Over time, these plants have adapted to the local climate and grown wild.
Australian botanic gardens date back to 1788 when James Cook was on his famous journey to Australia. Captain Cook was a British explorer who had sailed around the world three times by the time he sailed into Australia's waters in 1770. His great interest in botany led him to collect seeds from all over his travels and bring them back to England where they were planted at Kew Gardens near London.
In the late 17th century, botanic gardens were established across Europe to study and preserve plant species from around the world. Australian botanic gardens follow this tradition by collecting, growing, and distributing native and exotic plants for research purposes. They also serve as outdoor classrooms for local schools and community groups who want to learn more about gardening or nature conservation.
In Australia, botanic gardens were established by explorers such as Allan Cunningham who came looking for new plants during the early 1800s. Cunningham went on several expeditions through western NSW collecting specimens which he later cultivated at Parramatta Park Farm before taking them back to England where they were catalogued as part of Sir Joseph Banks' collection at Kew Gardens
Australia's first botanic garden was established in 1818 in Sydney. It was originally named "The Royal Botanic Garden" but was renamed "The Royal Botanic Gardens" in 1828 when it became part of a larger complex that included an arboretum and zoological garden. The Sydney Botanic Gardens now have over 70 hectares (175 acres) under cultivation and contain more than 20,000 species of plants.
Mount Tomah Botanic Gardens was established in 1968 on land donated by the government of New South Wales specifically for this purpose. The garden is located at an elevation of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level on Mount Tomah in Central New South Wales—an area known for its rich volcanic soils that support large populations of native flora and fauna over hundreds of years before human settlement occurred here!
Other notable Australian botanical gardens include those at Malmsbury (Victoria), Mount Tomah (New South Wales), and Mount Lofty Ranges (South Australia).