Visits to the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart will soon be made easier with a $7.6 million upgrade well under way.
Tasmania’s Park Minister Nick Duigan says the work is to improve amenities and accessibility at the country’s second-oldest, and cool climate, botanic gardens.
“This is the biggest capital works program at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in decades. It is a very exciting time …,” he says.
“The Welcome Hub at the entrance was refurbished with a new roof, cladding, and utility upgrades completed in September.
“Improvements to the all-access pathway loop are under way, improving safety and accessibility for visitors.”
Duigan says new plantings were made near the visitor centre including a Tasmanian Rainforest Collection with tree ferns and rare endemic species, and conservation work on the gatekeeper’s cottage.
BOTANIC GARDENS WORK
Work started in June and is expected to wrap up this summer.
The new collection should open up to the public in mid-December, and hopefully in time for Christmas, the minister says.
The gardens website says phase one of the works is over with the second phase to finish next year; the next stage will involve work on the welcome point near the main gates.
The recent works join a list of upgrades already completed this year, the minister says.
“Major renovations to the visitor centre were completed along with wheelchair access ramps and renovations to the main toilet block,” Duigan says.
“The restaurant refurbishment is under way and is expected to open in early 2026.”
Duigan says the work has been carefully planned to minimise the impact on the gardens.
“The gardens play an important role in the Tasmanian visitor economy and the growth in visitation in recent years is consistent with Tasmania’s increase in tourism numbers overall,” he says.
Click here to visit the garden’s website.
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