Theme: Heritage Gardens: Contemporary Challenges and Conversations

Many of Victoria’s historic botanic gardens are heritage listed – but do we understand why, and what that means for management of our landscapes?

Misconceptions and confusion abound around what is and is not appropriate in heritage landscapes – influenced in part by changing approaches to heritage management. 

However, heritage listing is just one factor that feeds into the management of our botanic gardens, which are all grappling with the 21st century challenges of climate change, maintenance and funding limitations, changed public expectations and an increased focus on collections management. 

Join us at the beautiful National Trust, National Heritage List and Heritage Council of Victoria-listed Rippon Lea in Elsternwick for a day of presentations and discussions on managing heritage botanic gardens.

The day will help clear up misunderstandings, profile new approaches and explain the current best practice approach to caring for these special places, hopefully opening the door to a more dynamic relationship between preserving the old and embracing the new in our constantly changing gardens.

Click here for the day’s program. 

Please RSVP to Donna Thomas, 0439 381 853 or donnathomas@ballarat.vic.gov.au by 10 November.

Please also note that spaces are limited so we will be restricting registrations to 5 people/garden.