White Hills Botanic Gardens

Bendigo Victoria

The White Hills Botanical Gardens in Bendigo were designed in the 1870's by Ferdinand von Mueller. The gardens offer excellent facilities including BBQ's. picnic facilities, walking tracks, play equipment and public toilets. The White Hills Botanical Gardens include rare flora and range of Australian wildlife. The Arch of Triumph commemorating WWI is the at the entrance of the gardens

"In 1852, only one year after gold was discovered in the Bendigo district, White Hills was to become one of the first parts of Bendigo to be subdivided. It was included on William Urquart, Government Surveyor map of the Bendigo goldfield that same year. The site was then set aside in 1854 by surveyors Larritt and Russell and the gardens were officially gazetted in 1857.

The garden was initially laid out and planted in the early 1860's and rejuvenated by the newly appointed curator Samuel Gado in the 1870's. Further rejuvenation was also required in the 1890's as insidious soil salinity destroyed some vegetation.

Many original plantings were donated in the 1860's by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, who is today widely recognised for his prominent role in the early development of Melbourne's Royal Botanical Gardens. There are four trees in these gardens which are currently listed on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees in Victoria.

Animals have been exhibited continually in the gardens since 1862. This began as part of the acclimatisation movement on the late 1800's. By 1872 there were monkeys, koalas and birds housed in dispalys here. Today visitors can see kangaroos, wallabies and birds in a range of exhibits throughout the gardens.

We welcome you to enjoy the tranquil gardens, view animals and utilise the playground, BBQ's, rotundas and other facilities." Source: Bendigo's White Hills Botanic Gardens entrance plaque.

Admission to the gardens is free. Opening hours are 9am - 7pm.