The Kyneton Botanic Gardens date back to 1858 and are among the finest in Central Victoria’s small goldfields towns. They contain magnificent mature trees set in lawns sloping down to the Campaspe River. Seventeen of the trees have been listed as significant, including an endangered Chilean Wine Palm.
Kyneton Botanic Gardens is located on the traditional lands of the Taungurung people and the Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners.
The current site is bounded by the Campaspe River on one side and Clowes, Mollison and Powlett Streets on the other and became permanently reserved as Public Gardens in 1867. Various grants were secured to obtain and plant trees and shrubs. Some plants were sourced from Ferdinand von Mueller, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (1857–1873), who aided many of the developing regional gardens, but it is unclear if any of those plants survive today. The Inauguration Tree, a magnificent Algerian Oak, was planted on 19 May 1863 and was recently celebrated at an event in the gardens for Botanic Gardens Week 2025.
In 2010 the Macedon Ranges Shire Council commissioned Andrew Laidlaw Design* to prepare a master plan to provide a new direction for the Gardens, one that respects the past and guides its rejuvenation and ongoing management. The Kyneton Botanic Gardens Master Plan was adopted by Council in 2011 with the aim of making the Gardens a relevant 21st century botanical garden. The Friends group is actively working alongside Council to fully implement this vision.
Of the seventeen National Trust of Australia listed trees, three are of State significance: the Chilean Wine Palm Jubaea chilensis, Coast Live Oak Quercus agrifolia and Variegated Portugese Laurel Prunus lusitanica variegata.
There is also an impressive collection of oaks (Quercus), including at least 13 varieties. These are not only in the Gardens, but also in the adjacent Community Park and along the Campaspe River walk. There are several varieties of elm (Ulmus), ash (Fraxinus), and hawthorn (Crataegus) as well as a large range of northern hemisphere conifers. These spectacular specimens include the Atlas, Blue Atlas, Deodar Cedars, Giant and Coast Redwoods and Douglas Firs. Also on display are pines, including several Himalayan White Pines Pinus wallichiana, a species uncommon in cultivation, many unusual shrubs, including Viburnum varieties, and a collection of Kniphofia, (e.g. red hot pokers).
The Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens aim to enthuse and educate the community about the wonders and enjoyment of these cold-climate gardens and horticulture in general. We hold monthly working bees in the gardens and events for members, such as bulb planting days, annual plant sales, conduct tours and publish regular newsletters on our activities.
Join us to promote the Kyneton Botanic Gardens as a tourist attraction, and raise funds to contribute to projects that improve and develop these significant gardens.
Membership fees for 2025/26 are $20 single and $30 family.
Website: kynetonbotanicgardensfriends.org
Instagram: kynetonbotanicgardens
Email: friendsKBG@outlook.com
Location: 17A Mollison Street (corner of Clowes Street), Kyneton
Postal address: PO Box 47, Kyneton 3444
*Landscape architect at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
