Sale Botanic Gardens, situated on the eastern bank of Lake Guthridge, approximately 1 km from the Sale CBD, is Gippsland’s preeminent public garden.

Gazetted in 1860, the Gardens still provide residents and visitors opportunity for quiet informal relaxation, pleasant walks along formal paths through new and established garden beds, as well as an adventure playspace for families to enjoy.

With a chequered history of opposing land uses over the 160 years, the 5-hectare site of the Botanic Gardens is now home to horticultural collections that showcases a resilient landscape in a changing climate.

Rejuvenation of the Gardens commenced in the early 2000s with the development of the Sensory Garden. Since then, additions to the Gardens include the Summer Walk, Catalogue Collection, Care for the Rare Collection, Woody Meadows Collection, Garden for Life, Climate Matched Garden and most recently the Bill Cane Collection.

In addition to the horticultural collections, there are some of Victoria’s best Ulmus species dating back to the late 1800s, as well as a range of conifers including a Cupressus torulosa planted as part of the birthday celebrations for Queen Victoria in 1872.

The garden is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike, with green open lawns, shade trees and a range of picnic facilities. The accessible path network encourages visitors to explore the Gardens and take in the vistas over Lake Guthridge.

Public art amplifies and increases public appreciation of the significance of the Gardens, encouraging links between sustainability, the environment and the arts, as well as adding meaningful layers of context to the Gardens’ spaces and Living Collections.

Supporting Wellington Shire in maintaining the Gardens, the Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens host monthly Gardening Days, as well as free tours of the significant trees and the Gardens in general.

For further information, visit https://www.salebotanicgardens.com.au/.