Friends Lawn opening

The new Friends Lawn and associated works, including the re-aligned and re-modelled Main Path, the extended cafe deck and extensive new plantings, have now been completed. At a launch event on Wednesday 27 April, the Friends' substantial contribution to the project was acknowledged and this is now marked by a plaque adjoining the deck.

The Friends put $235,000 towards the Friends Lawn project and a further $50,000 for re-modelling the Main Path intersection, with pathways to key attractions in the Gardens including the Treehouse and children’s trail, Banksia Centre and Garden, café, Ian Potter National Conservatory, Crosbie Morrison and other surrounding buildings. The Friends Public Fund contributed $30,000 towards the new plantings.

Despite the wet weather (which had been an ongoing feature of the project throughout) the many parties involved in the planning, design, funding, construction, landscaping and horticultural development of the project were able to celebrate the successful completion of the first of the Gardens' latest series of redevelopment projects. This is the first major outcome of the 2015 ANBG Master Plan, which set out a roadmap for the Gardens' future.

Left: Friends President Neville Page speaks at the launch event. Right: View of the deck and plaque acknowledging the Friends contribution.