About Us

About the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens

Long before the alien sight of sailing ships entering the river mouth, the local aboriginal tribes had established regular camps within what is now the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, sustained by the abundant supplies of shellfish in the river nearby. Midden sites (mostly mounds of oyster shells), still evident within the RTBG and along the adjacent shores, attest to a long history of habitation.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is sited on the Queens Domain (a ridge of modified remnant grassy woodland adjacent to Government House) and is just a short walk of approximately 2 kilometres from Hobart's CBD. The Domain is a significant natural and cultural heritage landscape. Sandstone quarries within the Domain supplied building material for the Gunpowder Magazine, Government House as well as three significant structures within the Gardens; the Superintendents Cottage, the Friends Cottage and part of the Arthur Wall.

The links below list details about our organisation and its objectives.

• A Brief History

  In its 190 years the RTBG has had twenty Superintendents of varying capabilities (called Directors since the nineteen nineties). Influenced by the changes in fashion from the Victorian era onwards each has had some impact on the Gardens' fabric and design.

• Built Heritage

  The Gardens contain some of Tasmania's most significant built heritage. These structures form the bare bones around which the Gardens have waxed and waned over the years.

• Plant Collections - History

  The RTBG reflects the Twentieth Century focus of many botanic gardens on collections showing world flora and extolling botanical curiosity and diversity.

• Plant Collections - Current Practices

  Latterly, as with other older botanic gardens worldwide, the RTBG has been reassessing its relevance in the context of the need to manage an important and sensitive cultural heritage site in conjunction with the need to meet the multi-faceted demands of today.

• Environmental and Conservation Initiatives

  The RTBG holds conservation collections of over a dozen threatened species.Lomatia tasmanica Major collections of plants listed as endangered under Tasmanian legislation are bearded heath (Epacris barbata), Freycinet wax flower (Philotheca freyciana), shy Susan (Tetratheca gunnii) and Davies wax flower (Phebalium davesii).

• Reaching Out - State Wide Significance

  Geographically the RTBG has often been regarded principally as a Hobart institution. To reverse this perception and reinforce our state-wide relevance the Gardens has expanded upon a series of outreach programs.

• Community Engagement

  The RTBG engages with its visitors and the local community through a variety of major events. These include the Tulip Festival, now in it's twentieth year.

• Our Vision

  To be internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in southern hemisphere cool climate plants, and to enrich Tasmania's social and cultural environment

• Our Mission

  To manage, conserve and enhance the RTBG by delivering sustainable and relevant programs in plant collections and displays, tourism and recreation, cultural heritage, research, and learning for Tasmania and the broader community.

• Our Values

  The principles and values that underpin the Gardens' operations.

• Annual Report 2009/2010

  Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Annual Report 09/10

• Strategic Goals

  Eight strategic goals have been defined to achieve the vision and mission of the RTBG.

• Meeting Tasmania Together Priority Benchmarks

  The Tasmania Together program has determined a number of priority benchmarks for 2002-2005. While many of the benchmarks addressed in the RTBG Strategic Plan are longer term, the plan does address the following priority benchmarks either directly or in an enabling role:

• Governance

  The RTBG is a state government statutory organisation, governed by the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Act 2002 and administered by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE)

• Our Staff

  The staff, often omitted from descriptions of the Gardens, number around forty, including a Director, administrative personnel, a marketing and events officer, an interpretation / designer, horticulturists, stonemasons, teachers, scientists, nursery staff and a maintenance team.

• RTBG Business Units

  RTBG Business Units include; Business Services, Planning & Assets, Botanical Estate, Botanical And Public Programs, Botanical Resources, Education and Interpretation, Marketing & Events.

• General Policies

  General Policies includes: Asset Management, Risk Management, Managing Diversity and Occupational Health and Safety.

• Publications

  New Publications by RTBG