The WAMA Foundation’s Grampians/Gariwerd Endemic Botanic Garden is located on the eastern slopes of the Grampians/Gariwerd National Park in Victoria, near Halls Gap.
Established in 2022 with thanks to the State Government’s Growing Victoria’s Regional Botanic Gardens Program, the garden has been developed with support from dedicated volunteers and the local community. Collecting permits arranged by the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Cranbourne Gardens) enabled the sourcing of wild-provenance plant material. A curated meta-collection of these precious species is now housed at both sites.
The garden is home to over 500 plants, representing nearly 60 species – more than half of which are endemic to the Gariwerd/Grampians region. Many of these plants occur naturally in remote locations and are rare, endangered, or critically endangered, making the garden an important site for biodiversity conservation. It also offers a unique opportunity to see all these species in one accessible location – something not possible anywhere else.
The Grampians/Gariwerd region is one of Victoria’s biodiversity hotspots, containing more than 30% of the state’s native flora, including 49 species found nowhere else on Earth. These unique species are increasingly under threat from climate change and rising bushfire activity. The Grampians/Gariwerd Endemic Botanic Garden plays a vital role in protecting these vulnerable plants.
The garden is managed by the WAMA Foundation as part of its broader precinct, which includes the National Centre for Environmental Art, opening this year. Once open, it will not only offer a beautiful and educational display but also a rare opportunity for visitors to connect with flora that is otherwise difficult to access.
Follow the WAMA Foundation on social media for updates on the upcoming launch:
