The Southern Highlands Botanic Garden Inc is a voluntary community organisation established to create and manage a botanic garden within the Wingecarribee Shire Council area. It has a membership of around 200 ‘Friends,’ and is managed by a small Executive.

FOUR SEASONS IN A COLD CLIMATE

The Southern Highlands, with its four distinct seasons, has long been famous for its gardens. The region’s horticultural heritage goes back to the late 19th century when the nurseries of some of Australia's most famous seed producers were housed locally. Over the years, some of Australia's most famous landscape and garden designers have worked on local properties.

Tulip Time at Bowral is one of Australia's biggest floral festivals, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each September. The centrepiece to festivities is a massed display of 100,000 tulips in Corbett Gardens. The Council also maintains public parks and gardens in all of the towns and villages of the Shire. These are put to varying degrees of use, often directly attributable to their location, development and regularity of maintenance.

Additionally, the region is home to significant private gardens. These gardens include Gowen Brae in Burradoo, Moidart in Burradoo, Chinoiserie in Mittagong, Trentwood in Moss Vale, Hopewood in Bowral, Redlands in Mittagong, Milton Park in Bowral and Invergowire in Exeter.

The region also houses some of the States most significant National Parks, reserves and State Forests. The area is home to the Throsby Park Historic Site, the Cecil Hoskins Nature Reserve, the Bungonia State Recreation Area and the Morton National Park.

Why a Botanic Garden?

The new Southern Highlands Botanic Gardens will provide a specific focus for the study, promotion and enjoyment of gardens, and much of the garden investment and innovation which is currently locked into private ownership. The Botanic Gardens would create a central location for horticulture to make its next innovation in the region, continuing the tradition of the Wingecarribee Shire as a home to some of Australia’s most important gardens.

Contact Information

Chairman  Charlotte Webb

Telephone 02 4861 4899
FAX 02 4861 4599
Street Address 399 Bong Bong Street, BOWRAL, NSW AUSTRALIA 2576
Postal address PO Box 707 MOSS VALE NSW AUSTRALIA 2577
Electronic mail info@shbg.com.au