The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are located on a hill approximately 3 km from Camperdown’s CBD. The Gardens command views over the twin volcanic lakes of Bullen Merri and Gnotuk.

The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum site occupies just over 25 hectares in the north-east of the original park reserve, with the Gardens covering a 1.2-hectare fenced area at the centre of the Arboretum.   

Reserved as a public park in 1869, on the recommendation of William Guilfoyle, renowned director of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, improvements were made to the amenities and layout and the Gardens are now listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR H2256).

The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum include a number of mature significant trees including a rare example of an avenue of nine Tilia x europaea (Linden), two rare Quercus leucotrichophora (Himalayan Oak) and an endangered Elaeodendron croceum (African Holly).

Other important trees in the Arboretum include the Quercus pubescens (Downy Oak), Quercus petraea (Sessile Oak), Acer opalus subsp. obtusatum (Italian Maple) as well as other uncommon species of deciduous trees and conifers that survive from the 1870s plantings. In 1986 a Pinus montezuma (Montezuma Pine) was planted by James Guilfoyle, great-grandson of William Guilfoyle.

The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are of historic significance for their association with William Guilfoyle, with the gardenesque design being one of the last known examples of his public work before his death in 1912. Guilfoyle is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest garden designers and his rare, extant plan and accompanying planting notes of 1910 are held in the collection of the Camperdown Historical Society.

The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum are of aesthetic significance as one of the largest public park reserves in Victoria enhanced by the dramatic site location on a hill rising between the picturesque twin volcanic crater lakes of Gnotuk and Bullen Merri. The location provides outstanding views from within the gardens over the lakes and the basalt plains of the western district.

Features:

• Accessible
• BBQ
• Bird watching
• Picnic tables
• Toilets
• Walking tracks.

The Gardens can be booked for events such as weddings, birthdays, family events, even musical entertainment and live theatre. Visit https://camperdownbotanicgardens.org.au/ for details.