Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens
The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens were established in Hobart in 1818 and hold historic plant collections and a large number of significant trees, many dating back to the nineteenth century. It also has an increasing number of important conservation collections of Tasmanian plants, of which the King's Lomatia is one of the most unusual, and the world's only Subantarctic Plant House. Here, plants from subantarctic islands in high southern latitudes are displayed in a climatically-controlled environment, where chilly fogs and mists mirror the wet, cold conditions of their island homes. The plants of the Subantarctic Plant House have been collected by Gardens staff and associated scientists on field trips to Macquarie Island.
Prior to European settlement, local Aboriginal tribes used the site, and traces of their occupation are still apparent.
The visitor centre houses a restaurant, souvenir shop, and a gallery with regularly changing displays by local artists, together with a display area containing the Gardens' own exhibitions.
Reference
- Hurburgh, Marcus.(1986) The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, 1818-1986 : a history in stone, soil and superintendents Sandy Bay, Tas : Shearwater Press, [1986] ISBN 0959208135 Includes: Catalogue of plants in the Royal Society's Gardens, Queen's Park, Hobart Town, 1857 p. 71-83.