Australian Inland Botanic Gardens facts for kids

The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens (AIBG) is a special botanical garden located in Mourquong, in south-west New South Wales. It's close to the city of Mildura and the Murray River.

This garden is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere that focuses on plants from dry areas. It's unique among gardens in New South Wales and Victoria because it specializes in plants that can live with very little water.

History of the Gardens

The idea for the gardens came from a group of scientists in 1983. Five years later, in 1988, the land was given to the community. This land used to be a sheep farm. A group of volunteers, called the Friends of the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, also started in 1988.

The gardens were officially set up in 1989. A special plan for the gardens was created by John Wrigley, who was the first Director of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

First Plantings and Buildings

The first plants were put in the ground in 1991. Lady Stephen and Sir Ninian Stephen, who was once Australia's Governor-General, helped by planting Eucalyptus citriodora trees near the entrance. These first plantings also included a display of Australian plants that can handle salty soil.

In the same year, an old pine log farmhouse called Garnpang was moved to the gardens. It was rebuilt and is now used as a temporary visitor center, a classroom, and a place for social events. The path around Garnpang is made from gypsum, a mineral found nearby.

Growing the Gardens

In 1992, full-time staff were hired. A pump was put on the Murray River to bring water for the plants. This helped with the salt-tolerant plants and the new Rose Garden. Victoria's Governor, Richard McGarvie, and his wife planted the first rows of roses.

The next year, in 1993, planting began in other sections, including areas for American and European plants. The local history group also gave ownership of Garnpang to the gardens. Maps and plans about Garnpang were published in a book that year.

The full watering system was finished in 1995. More sections were planted, including areas for dry land Australian, New Zealand, Asian, and African plants. A windmill was given to the gardens by a local settler. The garden's train was bought from a nearby attraction called Orange World.

What You Can See and Do

The Australian Inland Botanic Gardens covers a large area of 152 hectares (about 375 acres). It has different parts:

• A riverfront area for future fun activities and boat parking.
• A clifftop area for future buildings.
• A large fenced area of mallee sandhills, which are special types of Australian bushland.
• A nature trail for walking and exploring.

Plant Collections

The gardens have over 20,000 plants, and about half of them have labels so you can learn what they are. You'll find not only Australian native plants but also plants from New Zealand, Africa, Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

The garden has old, preserved mallee trees, some of which might be as old as 2500 years! These include Eucalyptus dumosa, Eucalyptus oleosa, Eucalyptus socialis, Eucalyptus gracilis, and Eucalyptus viridis.

The rose garden is very colorful with 1624 rose bushes arranged by color. There are also plants that can handle salty soil and exotic plants from different parts of the world. You can also find a rock garden.

How the Gardens Operate

The gardens are run by a special committee. They rely on donations and help from volunteers, especially the Friends of AIBG. The gardens also work with other botanical gardens and nature groups around the world. They are a main partner of the Barkindji Biosphere Reserve, which is a special nature area.

Water for the gardens comes from the Murray River. A flag shows the underground water level, which is watched by a government department. A fence keeps out rabbits and kangaroos to protect the plants. Weeds are sometimes left to help stop soil from washing away. Mulch, which is a protective layer for the soil, comes from local wineries and a saw mill.

The gardens are open every day, and it's free to get in! There isn't an indoor exhibition space yet, and they don't sell plants. However, there are plans to build a visitor center.

Learning and Education

The Bush Chapel, which was inspired by one of the scientists, is used as a classroom for students who visit.

Students from local colleges, like Sunraysia Institute of TAFE, come to the gardens to do practical work as part of their studies. There are also plans for La Trobe University to use the gardens for research projects.

In 2008, a special training program for young people interested in nature, called Green Corps, started at the gardens.

On the first Sunday of each month, you can take a fun tractor/train tour around the gardens.

A bird watching club has identified at least 38 different types of birds living in the gardens!

See Also

In Spanish: Jardín botánico de las Tierras Interiores de Australia para niños

• Gardening in Australia
• List of botanical gardens in Australia

Images for kids

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  Sir Ninian Stephen, former AIBG patron.

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  Eucalyptus citriodora (also known as Corymbia citriodora) was planted along the entrance.

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  Eucalyptus dumosa, part of the mallee collection.

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  Eucalyptus oleosa, also part of the mallee collection.