Founded in 1846, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (RBG Melbourne) in South Yarra owes its botanic heritage and landscape beauty to the first two Directors, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller and William Guilfoyle.
Mueller, acclaimed as one of the greatest botanists of the 19th century, introduced a vast array of plants to the young Gardens. Guilfoyle created a paradise of lush foliage, wrapped around a series of tranquil lakes and sweeping lawns.

The Gardens extend over 38 hectares and display more than 52,000 individual plants, representing approximately 10,000 different species from every part of the globe.

We have a rich array of plant collections, including our world-renowned Camellias, Water Conservation Garden, southern hemisphere conifers, indigenous flora of the Lower Yarra River, Australian forest flora, succulents and cacti, species roses, Californian species, herbs, perennials, cycads, palms and plants from Southern China.
The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden is a captivating place for children to explore and learn about the wonderful world of plants.

Guilfoyle’s Volcano, an historic water reservoir, has commanding views of the city, and its landscape design showcases low-water use plants. Boardwalks and viewing platforms allow visitors to explore this remarkable feature.

The Gardens provide a natural sanctuary for native wildlife such as Black Swans, eels, Bell Miners, cockatoos and Fairy-Wrens.

Forty-five minutes south-east of RBG Melbourne, is the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, a 363-hectare bushland site of State significance and home to the award-winning Australian Garden.

The first nine hectares of the Australian Garden opened in 2006. It is a bold combination of art and architecture and features100,000 indigenous plants from across Australia. The design is modern and embraces concepts and materials that are new in Australian and international garden design.

The garden, designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean with Paul Thompson, has already received 17 international, national and regional awards for landscape design, tourism and sustainability, including ‘Best new tourism development in Australia’ in the 2006 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards.

The second stage of the Australian Garden – another nine hectares – is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Birdwood Avenue
South Yarra VIC 3141

Telephone:+61 3 9252 2300
Facsimile:+61 3 9252 2442
Email: rbg@rbg.vic.gov.au

Postal address:
Private Bag 2000
Birdwood Avenue
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
Australia

Visitor Services and programs

For more information on the services and programs provided by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, please call +61 3 9252 2429 or email: rbg@rbg.vic.gov.au.

Website www.rbg.vic.gov.au