Work begins on Gardens hub

CONSTRUCTION is underway for the Bendigo Botanic Gardens new central visitor hub.

Currently, works are being done for underground tanks that will recycle water through the gardens.

President of the Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens Anne Bridley said she is most excited for new native plants that will surround the hub.

“We’re looking forward to having the new Indigenous Garden in,” she said.

“It’s something that hasn’t been the focus of the gardens to date, we’ve certainly got a few small Indigenous areas in, but it’s going to be terrific to have an area in the landscape that will be focusing on local natives.

“They’re going to be particularly local plants that have been used by the local Dja Dja Wurrung people. I’m quite excited about that.”

Ms Bridley said the central hub, which includes a visitor centre building, central plaza, and wetland, is a sign of the gardens’ importance to the community.

“The gardens, up to the early 90s, hadn’t been very well looked after and now they’re very heavily used, they look terrific,” she said.

“We get a lot of comments about how wonderful the gardens look nowadays, and I think they’re a real asset to the local community. Having a visitor centre where people can come and meet will just be another part of that.”

The Friends group has been in constant talks with the City of Greater Bendigo and architects about what the hub will look like, and Ms Bridley said the group “really appreciates” having their views heard.

“We’re very happy with how it’s turned out and one of the things we’re very happy about is the water recycling,” she said.

“They’re going to have a water feature around the building and these big underground tanks that will collect stormwater and then put it through temporary billabongs. That’s quite encouraging to see that sort of thing.”