Dr Phillip Kodela ‘Wattle in Your Pocket, the Bank-notable Wattles – science behind the Next Generation Banknotes of Australia’
2026-07-16 12:30 - 13:30 (Australia/Sydney) | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Philip, from the Australian Biological Resources Study, advised on the design and five species of Acacia to be used in the Next Generation Banknotes. He will tell us why there was a need for the new banknotes, why these wattle species, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project.
Abstract
Acacia is the largest genus of vascular plants in Australia with over 1000 species. They are a prominent part of the Australian flora, growing in a wide range of plant communities and habitats, from coastal to subalpine and tropical to arid. Wattles are readily recognised in the landscape by their array of mostly yellow-hued flowers, and they feature through much of our culture. Acacia is represented in the national floral emblem (Golden Wattle Acacia pycnantha), the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, Order of Australia medals, currency, stamps, literature, the arts, crafts and design. Over tens of thousands of years, indigenous cultures developed a detailed knowledge about acacias and their wide range of uses, from wooden implements to food and medicine. In more recent times, acacias have been used for their wood, tannin and oil; as stock fodder, cut flowers and a source of food; and in horticulture (countless ornaments in parks, gardens and landscaping), land rehabilitation and soil stabilisation. It is appropriate therefore that the iconic wattle features on our latest Australian banknotes. As a subject matter expert Phillip advised the Reserve Bank of Australia on the five species and designs used in the Next Generation Banknotes program which began c.2015. Phillip will talk about the species and their morphological features represented on each of the banknotes. He will also address why there was a need for the new banknotes, why these wattle species, and some of the technical issues and challenges with the project.
Biography
Dr Phillip Kodela is Botanist and Executive Editor of the Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Parks Australia Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
For over 40 years he has worked in the fields of botany, biogeography, ecology, palynology, science communication and education. His areas of research and interest include wetlands, rainforest, rare plants, weeds, environmental assessment, management and conservation, forensics, horticultural botany, plant taxonomy, plant identification and botanical information resources including floras, bioinformatics and the curation of herbarium specimen and living collections.
He started researching Acacia, including taxonomic studies, in 1990 when he began a long association with the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney where he was based till 2017. He has been involved with a number of major Acacia projects, including flora treatments for the Flora of New South Wales, WattleWeb, PlantNET New South Wales FloraOnline, Flora of Australia and the various incarnations of WATTLE, as well as assessing rare plant taxa and vegetation communities, curating collections, teaching, maintaining databases, and producing numerous reports and papers, including the publication of new species.
Phillip has worked on the Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Australian Plant Census, Australian Plant Name Index, Global Plants Type Digitisation Project, Weeds in Australia, Blue Mountains World Heritage Assessment, Next Generation Australian Banknotes, counter-terrorism and other forensic projects, N.S.W. Vegetation Classification and Assessment projects and numerous vegetation surveys. From late 2017, Phillip has been with ABRS involved with the eFlora of Australia, taxonomy project grants, research, science communication, botanical inquiries and advising government and other stakeholders.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGG
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Plants Through Time Themed Walks
2026-07-20 11:00 - 2026-07-26 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Come on a free guided walk through the Australian National Botanic Gardens and look at the life story of plants on earth, the main evolutionary changes that have occurred in plants over 3 billion years and how plants have changed our planet. To keep a grasp on that time scale we will condense that 3 billion year period into a calendar year.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 20 July to Sunday 26 July.
Meet at the clock near the café bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Dr John Turnbull ‘Trees, woods and man’
2026-07-23 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
John, formerly with CSIRO, will trace the importance of trees from earliest times to the present day.
Biography
Dr John Turnbull has a BSc Forestry degree from the University of Wales and a PhD in eucalypt genecology from ANU. He is a former Senior Forestry Research Scientist at CSIRO and Chief Scientist at the International Forest Research Centre in Indonesia. He has managed collaborative forest research projects and provided consultancy services to many countries on the use of Australia trees in plantations. He was consultant to China’s one-million-hectare multi-species plantation project. Since retiring in 1999 he has been a Volunteer Guide at ANBG.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGH
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Black Mountain Summit Ramble
2026-07-25 09:30 - 11:30 | Black Mountain Summit Terrace, Black Mountain Summit Trail, Black Mountain Drive, Canberra, ACT, Australia
The Summit Walk between the Summit of Black Mountain Nature Reserve to the Visitor Centre at the ANBG is a joint initiative between the ACT Government, the Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) and Telstra and was officially opened in July 2000.
Dr Michael Doherty, a local plant ecologist, and ANBG Guide, will talk about winter colour among the plants down the north-eastern slope from the Summit of Black Mountain to the ANBG Visitor Centre. Michael will talk about the interesting variety of mechanisms through which the local flora copes with fire and drought and he will also be pointing out the characteristics of the different eucalypts found along the way, including some very old veteran scribbly gums with lumpy bumpy ‘elephants feet’!
** As we are walking down the track, it may be a good idea to arrange with a friend to take you back to your car at the top after the walk.
The Summit Walk has steep sections, so it is suitable for fit walkers (including children over the age of 12).
Meet: At the Summit Terrace, slightly uphill from the Tower on Black Mountain.
Bring: Friends, water, and snacks, if you wish.
Wear: Sturdy shoes, hat, and sun cream …and remember to dress for a walk in winter weather if it is cold.
Bookings essential: Places are limited on these very popular rambles, so please use the booking link to register for the walk.
Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/DNNTX
It helps so that you can be contacted in case arrangements need to change (e.g. adverse weather).
Tickets are limited, so please notify us if you have booked but find you are unable to come, by email to friendsofblackmountain@gmail.com or phone 0437 298 711

Bruno Ferronato ‘TurtleWatch ACT: citizen-science, monitoring and conservation of turtles in Canberra’
2026-07-30 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Bruno will talk about the biology of the Eastern long-necked turtles, their adaptations to flood-dry cycles in Australia, their active life in suburban areas, and recent findings in the turtle monitoring program in Canberra.
Biography
Bruno Ferronato (PhD) is an ecologist and turtle specialist, who works at the Ginninderra Catchment Group. He runs TurtleWatch ACT, which monitors turtles in Canberra with the help of volunteers. Bruno is originally from Brazil and has been involved in turtle research since 2004, working in Brazil, Peru, USA and Australia.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKXYN
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Photographic Group July Regular Meeting
2026-07-31 10:00 - 12:00 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The next Photographic Group regular meeting is at 10.00am Friday 31 July.
It will feature a presentation by four members of the Photographic Group about a recent visit to Tasmania.
Phil Green, Simone Slater, Debbie Howard and Karin Neufeld were participants in a Nature Art Lab tour in May 2026 to capture images of the spectacular fungi for which Tasmania is well known.
They will present highlights of their photography from that trip as well as give an account of their journey.
The regular show and tell session is also on again. Bring up to six images on a thumb drive to share with your fellow PG members. You can include videos of up to ten seconds each if you choose.

Getting to know wattles
2026-08-03 13:30 - 15:30 | Solander Studio, Banksia Centre, ANBG, ANBG Clunies Ross St, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
The next Plant Recognition Group workshop will focus on native wattle trees and shrubs (Acacia, family Mimosaceae) that flower during winter. Dr Suzette Searle (President Wattle Day Association Inc.) will host a presentation on the main identification features and will have selected samples on display. Binocular microscopes, hand lenses and other aids for identification will be available for the workshop.
When: 1:30 – 3.30 pm on Monday 3 August 2026, with extra time for personal practice if you wish.
Where: Solander Room, Banksia Centre, ANBG
Booking ESSENTIAL: Please send your name and phone number to plantname@friendsanbg.org.au Seats are limited for this session, so booking ahead is mandatory.
Please advise at least a day in advance if you need to cancel your booking, so that a member on the waiting list can be offered the place.

Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker ‘On the extraordinary expedition of Dumont d’Urville that discovered Antarctica in 1840’
2026-08-06 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Patrick, from the ANU, will present many of the Dumont d’Urville’s expedition’s findings between 1837 and 1840, from 6740 pages of text, 481 plates of illustrations and 77 maps of Antarctica. He will also show slides of the surroundings of the French Antarctic station called Dumont d’Urville.
Biography
Emeritus Professor Patrick De Deckker is at the Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University. Patrick is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science.
Originally from Belgium, Patrick arrived in Australia about 50 years ago where he continued his university education in geology, micro-palaeontology and zoology at several institutions. He has been at ANU since 1981 except for 2 years at Monash and has worked on salt lakes, their biota and geological history, plus on the evolution of the oceans in our region related to climate changes. He has recently published a book “The Belgica expedition 1897-1899”.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGI
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Field Notes - Written in clay and fibre
2026-08-13 07:00 - 2026-08-26 14:00 | Front Gallery and Cafe, 1/84 Wattle St, Lyneham, ACT, 2602, Australia
Field Notes is an exhibition by local artists Gabrielle Le Grand, Amy Shanahan, and Lisa Stevenson, bringing together ceramics and woven fibre inspired by the Australian bush and coast. Through careful observation and skilled craftsmanship, the exhibition transforms the ephemeral into enduring works of art.
Each work begins with a chance encounter with the natural world: a fairy-wren balanced for a moment on a grass stem; a rosella peering from the darkness of a tree hollow; the quiet discovery of a carefully woven nest among the branches. Through careful observation and many hours of making, these fleeting moments are given lasting form.
The exhibition runs from the 13th to the 26th August.
Opening night:
Friday 14th August, 6-8pm. Limited tickets available.
The Front Gallery and Cafe
1/84 Wattle St, Lyneham ACT
Open weekdays 7am – 2pm
Weekends & Public Holidays 8am – 2pm
www.frontgallerycafe.com/exhibitions

Dr Veronica Briceno Rodrigez ‘From lab coats, hiking boots, and hot desks to plant conservation at the ANBG’
2026-08-13 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Join Vero, Conservation Horticulture Manager at the ANBG, as she shares her journey from plant ecophysiology research to conservation policy, and ultimately bringing it all together with hands-on plant conservation at the ANBG.
Biography
Dr Veronica Briceno Rodriguez is a plant ecologist, with experience spanning Chile’s temperate rainforests, the Southern Andes, and Australia’s alpine, desert, and rainforest ecosystems. After completing her PhD at the Australian National University and holding postdoctoral roles in both Chile and Australia, she shifted into conservation policy with the ACT Government to help bridge the gap between science and on ground action.
Vero is now the Conservation Horticulture Manager at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, where she leads the development of the ANBG Threatened Species Conservation Framework and oversees the Living Collection Strategy. Her work brings together research, policy, and practical conservation to deliver meaningful outcomes for Australia’s unique flora.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGL
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Seeds of Wonder Themed Walks
2026-08-17 11:00 - 2026-08-23 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
Science week in 2026 has the theme ‘Seeds of science: Nurturing knowledge for all’. Seeds of plants come in all shapes and sizes. Seeds, with their packed lunch on board, are a place where time can stand still. But seeds don’t stand still, they move around the environment. Come for a free guided walk in the Gardens and discover some of the amazing properties of seeds.
These one-hour guided walks are held at 11am and 2pm each day, from Monday 17 August to Sunday 23 August.
Meet at the flag near the café bridge.
No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Plant Recognition Group - Would you like to know more about Eucalyptus?
2026-08-17 13:30 - 15:30 | Solander Studio, Banksia Centre, ANBG, ANBG Clunies Ross St, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
Nigel England (CSIRO – Australian Tree Seed Centre) will be facilitating a plant recognition workshop on the Eucalyptus family, focussing on practical identification tips and useful botanical features and terminology.
Nigel will demonstrate the use of EUCLID – an interactive, comprehensive identification tool and information system for Australian eucalypts (genera Eucalyptus, Corymbia, and Angophora). Developed by the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, it uses Lucid software to help identify over 900 species using whatever features are available to you
Nigel is based at the Black Mountain Laboratories in Canberra, is a Research Technician specializing in tree breeding and forest seed management. Nigel has expertise in forestry trial management, seed collection, and propagation, with a strong focus on Eucalyptus species.
When: Monday 17 August 13.30 – 3.30pm including extra time to practice if you wish.
Where: Solander Studio, Banksia Centre, ANBG.
Bookings ESSENTIAL: Please send your name and phone number to plantname@friendsanbg.org.au Seats are limited for this session, so booking ahead is mandatory.
Please advise at least a day in advance if you need to cancel your booking, so that a member on the waiting list can be offered the place.

Australian National Herbarium Tour
2026-08-19 10:00 - 12:00 | CSIRO Black Mountain
Join the Friends on a fascinating tour of the Australian National Herbarium (ANH).
Maintained by CSIRO, the ANH is one of the largest plant collections in the country, with more than one million plant specimens. Some of the specimens were collected during Captain Cook’s 1770 expedition to Australia.
The ANH also houses specimens taken from the Australian National Botanic Gardens and helps to verify the scientific names used in labelling the Gardens’ collection of living plants. Specimens are also used for ongoing taxonomic and evolutionary research, population biology and ecological studies.
This tour is exclusive to ANBG Friends. It is restricted to adults, as we will be passing through or near laboratories with various hazards and chemicals.
The building is suitable for people with mobility issues.
When: Wednesday, 19 and 26 August, at 10:00am
Where: Meet at CSIRO Black Mountain Site
RSVP: Bookings are essential, and open on 1 August. Click HERE to purchase a ticket. [https://www.trybooking.com/DNIYW ]
The cost for ANBG Friends is $10.
Any enquiries about the tour should be directed to events@friendsanbg.org.au.

Professor Marcel Cardillo 'Grevillea/Hakea: the story of a remarkable evolutionary radiation'
2026-08-20 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The genera Grevillea and Hakea form one of Australia’s most spectacular and successful evolutionary radiations, with at least 650 species distributed almost ubiquitously across the continent. Our team at ANU have spent over a decade piecing together the story of this remarkable group: its origins and evolutionary history, its current patterns of diversity, and its prospects for the future under rapid environmental change. I will talk about the story of Grevillea/Hakea , as far we now know it, and what this group can tell us more generally about how climatic and biogeographic changes over tens of millions of years have shaped the Australian flora as we see it today.
Biography:
Marcel Cardillo is a professor with the Macroevolution and Macroecology Group, in the Research School of Biology, Australian National University. His work focuses on computational analysis of large biodiversity datasets and aims to understand the evolutionary history and present-day conservation of biodiversity.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGM
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.

Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Jo Harding ‘Bush Blitz Driving New Approaches to Working with Traditional Owners’
2026-08-27 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Jo, from Bush Blitz, will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Abstract
Bush Blitz is Australia’s leading species discovery program, uncovering more than 2,000 species new to western science since 2010. Working closely with Traditional Owners and indigenous rangers, recent expeditions—from Nitmiluk in the NT to the Pilliga region of NSW—have revealed species not previously recorded and strengthened scientific understanding of culturally significant landscapes.
This presentation will share how Bush Blitz is improving the way they work with Traditional Owners and the practical approaches that have made these partnerships successful.
Biography
Jo Harding is the Manager of Bush Blitz, leading national biodiversity expeditions that bring together scientists and Traditional Owners to uncover species new to western science. She champions collaboration across communities and disciplines, emphasising the value of shared knowledge in revealing and protecting Australia’s unique natural heritage.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DKZGN
Booking
Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations received at each talk to support Gardens’ programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.
Unless otherwise indicated, talks are held in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; talks may be booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made from about 30 days in advance until the night before the talk or until seating limits are reached.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Many summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au.

Wattle Walks
2026-08-31 11:00 - 2026-09-06 14:00 | Clock near the bridge, ANBG, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
31 August – 6 September, 11am – noon & 2pm – 3pm Free
Did you know there are more species of wattles than even of our iconic eucalypts? It’s not surprising that the floral emblem of Australia is a wattle. What are those wonderful floral globes made up of? Why does their foliage vary so much? Take a free guided walk to find out more about wattles and see a wide variety of them in flower at this time of year.
Meet at the flag near the Café bridge. No booking required for individuals, but groups of more than six people should contact walks@friendsanbg.org.au a week before the planned walk.

Anthony Hoffman ‘The Illawarra-Shoalhaven shrublands on volcanic outcrops ecological community’
2026-09-03 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The Illawarra-Shoalhaven shrubland ecological community is dependent on the underlying substrate and provides a significant linkage between the rainforests and woodlands.
Abstract
The Illawarra-Shoalhaven shrubland ecological community occurs on exposed ridgetops and slopes from the Great Eastern Escarpment to the sea between Wollongong and Batemans Bay. They are dependent on the underlying substrate formed over 66 million years ago and provide a significant linkage between the rainforests and woodlands of this increasingly developed landscape.
Biography
Anthony is a senior assessment officer for Ecological Communities in the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. For more than 15 years, he has worked closely with the national Threatened Species Scientific Committee and many other experts to identify, describe and conduct rigorous scientific assessments, and recommend priority conservation actions, for threatened ecological communities. Anthony has contributed to the listing of, and/or national conservation plans for, the 111 ecological communities that are recognised at the national level for priority protection, management and recovery.
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGO
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Dr Gavin Smith ‘Some reflections from a decade of working with and learning from one of Australia’s most misunderstood snakes’
2026-09-10 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Gavin brings together his research in sociology, ecology and conservation with his expertise in handling snakes.
Abstract
Gavin will reflect on a decade of conservation work with eastern brown snakes (and other reptile species) in the Bush Capital and surrounding region. This work has taken the form of snake rescue, removal, relocation, care, research, education and advocacy. Collectively, it has enabled me to build a detailed perspective on the human—snake and pet—snake conflict, urban encroachment and habitat fragmentation, eastern brown snake biology and behavioural ecology. There is a great complexity and variability within this species even in a relatively small geographical area. I will share some insights on one of Australia’s most misunderstood and feared snakes, and outline some of the conservation challenges it and other species confront.
Biography
Dr Gavin Smith is an Associate Professor at the ANU and the Head of Sociology. His academic work spans the fields of sociology, ecology and conservation. He is also a licensed snake handler in the ACT and NSW. Each year, he fields thousands of calls for assistance from members of the public, and his ACT Snake Removals team work with between 300-400 individual snakes over the course of a season, many of these injured and some requiring veterinary treatment. Smith is the Principal Investigator on the Canberra Snake Tracking Project, an ANU study exploring the spatial and behavioural ecology and population dynamics of urban adapted eastern brown snakes in Canberra and the conservational challenges confronted by this species.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGP
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Meredith Trinko talks about ‘Floral Impressions’
2026-09-17 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Abstract
The free exhibition ‘Floral Impressions: Coins in Bloom’ is open daily at the Royal Australian Mint, running until March 2027. It explores the rich symbolism of flowers on coins. Struck into metal, these distinctive graphical floral symbols carry a diverse range of historical and cultural information about their place of origin.
The exhibition curator Meredith Trinko shares her favourite pieces and discusses how she identified three distinct ways coin designers over the centuries have used flowers and plants – as emblems, to symbolise national identity and cultural heritage; as Commemorative symbolism celebrating significant events; and as decorative embellishments.
Floral coins convey symbolic messages to those to hold them, becoming a constant reminder of the common denominators which bind us together. While continuing to mint coins featuring floral motifs, the Royal Australian Mint upholds the tradition of using floral iconography as a visual historic record for future generations.
Bio
Meredith Trinko has a BA and MA in Art History and Curatorship from Australian National University, and has worked for Royal Australian Mint since 2022. She loves spending time in the National Coin Collection that the Royal Australian Mint is steward of on behalf of the nation.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGR
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Ben Keaney ‘With a little help from my friends- recovery and rehabilitation of peatlands in the Australian Alps following the 2020 fires
2026-09-24 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
This talk will discuss some of the programmes set up to rehabilitate peatlands after the fires of 2019/20, as well as the recovery of Sphagnum Shrub Bogs in the Alps more generally.
Abstract
Following the catastrophic fires which ravaged the Australian Alps in the summer of 2019/2020 various government agencies set up a number of programmes to assess and rehabilitate peatlands in the various jurisdictions that had been affected by the fires. This talk will discuss some of these programmes, as well as the recovery of Sphagnum Shrub Bogs in the Alps more generally.
Biography
Department of Archaeology and Natural History, ANU
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGS
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Frog Listening Evening
2026-09-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Crosbie Morrison Building, ANBG, Clunies Ross Street, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
Have you ever heard the frogs in the Gardens and wanted to know more about them? Join Anka Maria Hoefer (Frogwatch Coordinator for ACT & Region) to listen and learn about Canberra’s amazing frogs in the beautiful surrounds of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
Bring the family and test your listening skills to see if you can identify the different frog calls.
Meet at the amphitheatre in front of the Crosbie Morrison Building & adjacent ponds. In case of wet weather we will adjourn inside the Crosbie Morrison Building.
When: Friday 25 September, 6.30 pm – 8.00 pm
Where: Crosbie Morrison lawn and amphitheatre (parking in the overflow carpark)
Cost: Adults $10, Children $5
Bookings essential: https://www.trybooking.com/DLOVZ
Enquiries: events@friendsanbg.org.au

Samuele Ramellini and Xingyi Jiang ‘The social lives and collective behaviour of an iconic bird species: the superb fairywren’
2026-10-01 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Superb Fairywrens lead complex social lives and have a multilevel social structure in the non-breeding season as well as the breeding season. Xingyi and Samuele will discuss the decisions individuals make in their community.
Abstract
Superb fairywrens, the 2019 Birdlife Australia Bird of the Year, have complex social lives during the breeding season, with helpers helping a dominant pair. While a wealth of knowledge is available for the breeding behaviour, it was only very recently that their multilevel social structure was discovered during the non-breeding season. These complex social structures were only thought to occur in large-brained mammals like primates. The superb fairywren multilevel society is organised in three hierarchical levels, with breeding units aggregating with each other to form supergroups, which in turn coalesce to form communities. In this talk, Xingyi and Samuele will explore how individuals make decisions on who to associate with, how they decide to move, who leads these movements and what determines their choice to follow. Moreover, they will showcase their research on the consequences of living in a structured society both in winter and the following breeding attempts.
Biography
Xingyi Jiang is a PhD student at Beijing Normal University. She is currently visiting Damien Farine’s lab at ANU, studying collective movement and decision-making in the superb fairywren multilevel society.
Samuele Ramellini is a PhD student at the Australian National University. He is currently working on the drivers and consequences of living in the superb fairywren multilevel society.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGV
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Wake Up With the Birds
2026-10-03 08:30 - 10:30 | Visitor Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
A wonderful opportunity to observe some of Canberra’s amazing birdlife in the beautiful surrounds of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
In a small group, experience the Gardens early on a spring morning when the birds are nesting and at their most active.
Walks start at 8.30 am (Gates open at 8.15 am)
The event includes a 1 1/2 to 2 hour guided walk with an experienced guide.
Some binoculars will be provided, but bring your own if you have them.
Children attending the walks must be over the age of 8 and accompanied by an adult.
When: Saturday 3 October
Saturday 10 October
Saturday 17 October
Sunday 11 October
Where: Meet outside the Gardens Visitor Centre
Cost: Friends Members $15, Non-Members $20, Children (school age) $10
Bookings essential: https://www.trybooking.com/DNOXB
Enquiries: events@friendsanbg.org.au

Dr Jarrod Sopniewski ‘Returning green and golden bell frogs to the ACT’
2026-10-08 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
The chytrid fungus caused a decline in the population of green and golden bell frogs. Canberra researchers are testing a variety of interventions to control chytrid.
Abstract
Amphibians are the most threatened vertebrate globally, with over 40% of known species at risk of extinction. A major reason for this has been the global spread of the amphibian pathogen chytrid fungus, which has caused declines in over 500 species globally, and the extinction of around 100. Some species, such as the green and golden bell frog, used to be among the most common, but have disappeared from large parts of their distributions over the last few decades as the fungus has spread. Chytrid can’t be eradicated, but research has suggested some means through which it may be mitigated. These include providing ‘frog saunas’, saline ‘plunge pools’, and ‘immunising’ frogs against disease. In a world-first experiment taking place here in Canberra, researchers are testing whether these interventions could help amphibians bounce back from disease by reintroducing green and golden bell frogs to the city, where they have been missing for over 40 years.
Biography
Jarrod is a conservation biologist currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Canberra. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Canberra and Australian National University before moving to Perth to complete his PhD at the University of Western Australia in 2024. His research has been focused around understanding why species are threatened at landscape-scales, and developing methods to best protect them. A particular focus has been understanding how the invasive chytrid fungus has caused declines in frog species globally, and using this information to better plan for their recovery. In his current position at UC, he is working within a large research group that is aiming to use these findings to help reintroduce the locally extinct Green and Golden Bell Frog to the ACT.
Booking link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXGW
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Tasha James ‘What we can learn from the endemic flora of Mt Imlay’
2026-10-15 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Tasha will give us an update on her research on the isolated peak Mt Imlay, home to several endemic and endangered flora.
Biography
Tasha is a plant ecologist focusing on rare and endangered species. She is undertaking her PhD at the University of Canberra. Her undergraduate degree was in environmental science with honours in wetland plant ecology. Tasha now focuses on several critically endangered plant species which are endemic to the isolated summit of Mt Imlay, NSW. She collects data and samples from field surveys, drone surveying, Herbarium records and living collections to incorporate into a variety of analyses across population genetics, disease dynamics, and the influence of biophysical factors. She collaborates with the Australian National Botanic Gardens and several Herbaria. This project aims to provide more insight into the unique dynamics of isolated endemic plants to increase the ability for conserving these often-fragile communities.
Abstract
Mt Imlay, an isolated peak in south-east NSW, is home to several endemic and endangered flora. Tasha combines investigations into the ecology, disease dynamics, and population genetics of three of these species: Eucalyptus imlayensis, Hibbertia circinata and Boronia imlayensis, to make a holistic case study into the management of restricted populations of endangered species. These three species have various forms of ex situ insurance collections and the analyses and comparison of these can further inform conservation strategies. This presentation will discuss this holistic investigation and its findings so far. This work is part of an ongoing PhD project that will provide real-world advice to conservation practitioners in a growing field of science.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXHA
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Brad Desmond ‘Myrtle Mayday: safeguarding our vulnerable Myrtaceae species from Myrtle Rust’
2026-10-22 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Brad will describe how coordinated national action can turn urgent threat responses into practical, lasting conservation outcomes for threatened Myrtaceae species, including some species in remote locations only accessible by helicopter for seed collection.
Biography
Brad is the Coordinator of the Australian Seed Bank Partnership, Australia’s only national alliance of conservation seed banks. An environmental scientist with over 10 years’ experience in NGO, industry and public service sectors, Brad facilitates collaborative seed banking, research and knowledge sharing projects for the network and most recently delivered the highly successful communications campaign ASBP15, celebrating the 15 year anniversary of the Partnership in Australia.
Abstract
Myrtle Rust is a devastating plant disease caused by the invasive fungal pathogen Austropuccinia psidii. Since its arrival in Australia in 2010, it has caused devastating impacts to our iconic species in the Myrtaceae family, which includes iconic paperbarks, tea-trees, eucalypts, guavas, and lilly pillies. Securing seed and germplasm collections provides a critical insurance policy for Myrtaceae species that may continue to decline in the wild. The Australian Seed Bank Partnership’s Myrtle Mayday project worked to safeguard nationally threatened Myrtaceae species, that are not held or, poorly represented, in our conservation seed banks. Working across five Partners in WA, Victoria, NSW and QLD, ex situ collections were made for 31 nationally threatened Myrtaceae species, proactively capturing germplasm (seeds and cuttings) from wild populations, and undertaking germination trials to test seed viability. This collecting effort was not without challenges with some target species found in very remote locations, only accessible via helicopter and, others that have not produced fruit since the 2019–20 bushfires. This project has provided a safety net for some of Australia’s vulnerable Myrtaceae species, and shows how coordinated national action can turn urgent threat response into practical, lasting conservation outcomes. It was funded by the Australian Government’s Saving Native Species Program and supports implementation of the Insurance targets and actions of the Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXHC
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Bushland Nature Walk
2026-10-24 09:30 - 12:00 | Visitor Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australia
A special guided walk to explore the Gardens’ Bushland Precinct, across the Black Mountain road from the main part of the Gardens. The walk celebrates the official opening of the Walk ten years ago, in December 2016. We also celebrate the official opening of the Gardens in the month of October 1970.
The Bushland Nature Walk meanders through the Bushland Precinct of the ANBG, which is one of the few botanic gardens that has a section of original natural flora. The walk takes you through open forest and features expansive views to Canberra City and Parliament House. Some of the plants are labelled and you will find interpretive signs about the biodiversity, fire ecology and soil of the area. The walk culminates at a viewing platform offering spectacular views across Lake Burley Griffin. Return is via the same path.
Easy to medium on uneven ground, a few stairs and short steep sections. There are some places to rest along the way. Distance: 3.2 km
When: Saturday 24 October, 9.30 am
Where: Meet outside the Gardens Visitor Centre
Cost: $10 (All proceeds go towards projects in the Gardens)
Bookings essential: https://www.trybooking.com/DNRGK
Enquiries: events@friendsanbg.org.au

Jay Nicholson ‘Understanding the impacts of climate change on plants at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park – a summary of my PhD working with Anangu’
2026-10-29 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Jay will summarise his work on the interesting strategies desert plants use to overcome the complex and extreme environment that is the Australian desert.
Abstract
After widespread plant mortality at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in 2019 associated with a record-breaking drought and heatwave, Anangu (Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara People) were concerned and wanted to know why plants were being impacted. Over the last three years of my PhD, I have been working with Anangu researching why ecologically and culturally significant plants are dying during extreme heatwaves and drought. We conducted a range of field-based studies and glasshouse experiments to untangle the physiological drivers of plant death. Some of the plants we’ve worked on include the iconic mulga (Acacia aneura), desert oak (Allocasuarina decaisneana), and spinifex (Triodia pungens).
Biography
After working as a botanist in Kakadu National Park and Arnhem Land, Jay wanted more of a scientific challenge, so he decided to take on a PhD based at ANU working with Anangu and Parks Australia on desert plants. With the kind support of a Friends of ANBG Student Research Scholarship, he has thrown himself into the project. He will share both the scientific and personal journeys he has been on in the last 3.5 years and give a summary of his work.
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXHD
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au

Growing Friends Spring 2026 Native Plant Sale
2026-10-31 09:00 - 11:30 | Banksia Centre Car Park, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Saturday 31 October
9:00-11:30 (unless sold out earlier)
off the Banksia Centre Carpark
Hundreds of groundcovers, small and large shrubs and trees will be available for the discerning native plant lover.
All plants are propagated from cuttings or seeds sourced from within the Gardens. A full list of plants will be available on the Friends website closer to the sale.
Sales are by card only. All proceeds go to the Friends so that we can help support the Gardens.
Be early as plants sell out fast!

Shelley Rowntree ‘From the herbarium to the genome: new discoveries in Australia's everlasting daisies’
2026-11-05 12:30 - 13:30 | ANBG Theatrette, Clunies Ross Street Acton ACT 2601, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
Shelley revealed surprising relationships in the complex tangle of Chrysocephalum species in her research.
Abstract
Australia’s everlasting daisies are even more diverse than we thought. Using genetic data from herbarium specimens and freshly collected plants, we are rewriting the family tree of Chrysocephalum, revealing surprising relationships and bringing order to a complex tangle of subspecies. Combined with careful study of morphology, this work aims to show the path forward to clear species boundaries and shed light on how closely related species interact where their ranges overlap.
Biography
PhD Candidate, University of New England supported by FANBG
Booking Link – https://www.trybooking.com/DNXHE
One-hour talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated.
Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.
It is a good idea to reserve a seat at the talks that you wish to attend; several talks are booked out very quickly. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.
The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG Library. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au
