Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. National Parks
  4. Welcome to the Australian National Botanic Gardens
  5. Gardens and history | Australian National Botanic Gardens
  6. About us | Australian National Botanic Gardens

Sidebar first - EN - National parks

  • Gardens and history
    • About us
    • Partners
    • History

About us | Australian National Botanic Gardens

Typha domingensis

 

The Australian National Botanic Gardens maintains a scientific collection of native plants from all parts of Australia. The plants are displayed for the enjoyment and education of visitors and are used for research into plant classification and biology.

A herbarium of preserved plant specimens is closely associated with the living collection. The Gardens also cultivates plants threatened in the wild. This helps protect them against extinction and provides information which might assist re-introduction to their natural habitat.

 

[ show all | hide all ]

Mission, Vision and Goals

 

Our vision is: Australians value, conserve and appreciate our rich plant heritage.

Our mission is: To inspire, inform and connect people to the Australian flora.

Our goals are:

  1. Manage the national botanic garden to showcase Australia’s plants.
  2. Champion the conservation of Australian plants and the role of ex situ conservation in integrated conservation management.
  3. Create an inspirational place for enjoyment and learning.
  4. Engage communities in valuing and conserving Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.
  5. Increase knowledge of Australian flora through outstanding research activities.
  6. Be the gateway for knowledge about Australian plants.
  7. Facilitate and collaborate in national and international policy and practice to support the work of plant focused institutions and organisations.
  8. Grow as a national institution.

 

Administration of the Australian National Botanic Gardens

 

From the time of the first plantings (see historical development of the Gardens) in the late 1940's the Gardens were known as the 'Canberra Botanic Gardens' and were administered by the Parks and Gardens Section of the Department of Interior and its successors (Dept of Capital Territory etc).

The name was changed to 'National Botanic Gardens' in 1978, and 'Australian National Botanic Gardens' in 1984.

In 1985 the Gardens were transferred to the Commonwealth Environment Portfolio in recognition of their importance as a national scientific collecting institution and removing it from those areas of administration which would become the ACT Territorial Government.

After 1 July 1990 the Gardens were administered by the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife, as part of the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (ANPWS). On 10 September 1991 the Gardens were declared a Reserve under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975.

On the 1 June 1993 the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (ANPWS) formally changed its name to the Australian Nature Conservation Agency (ANCA), headed by a Chief Executive Officer.

On 18 November 1996, ANCA ceased to exist as an administrative entity, being replaced by 'Parks Australia' as part of `Environment Australia' within the Department of the Environment and Heritage. The statutory position of Director of National Parks is responsible for a range of Commonwealth national parks and reserves, including the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The management of 'Parks Australia' is split between two Assistant Secretaries, 'Parks North' and 'Parks South'.

The Australian Government decided in June 2003, that common branding would apply to all Australian Government Departments and Agencies. In August 'Environment Australia' as a 'branding' and logo ceased to exist, being replaced by the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, the words 'Australian Government' and the name 'Department of the Environment and Heritage'.

In March 2004 the ANBG was granted permission to brand itself with its own logo and the name 'Australian National Botanic Gardens'.

In January 2007, the name of the department changed to 'Department of the Environment and Water Resources'.

In November 2007, the name of the department changed to 'Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts'.

In August 2010, the name of the department changed to 'Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities' (SEWPaC).

In September 2013, the name of the department changed to 'Department of the Environment' (DotE).

In July 2016, the name of the department changed to 'Department of the Environment and Energy'.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 replaced the NPWC Act from 16 July 2000, providing the legislative framework to manage the Gardens as a Reserve.

The Gardens' Director is responsible for the day to day running of the Gardens, and the Plan of Management provides the framework for this administration.

The first Management Plan was endorsed by both Houses of the Parliament before it came into effect on 4 March 1994.

The second Management Plan came into effect from 12 February 2002.

In 1993 a seven year Agreement was entered into with CSIRO to combine the Botanic Gardens herbarium with CSIRO's Australian National Herbarium as part of a jointly managed Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research. This agreement was renewed in 2000 for a further ten years, expiring on 31 December 2009. In December 2009 an interim document was signed extending the CPBR Agreement for four months until a new Agreement was signed.

Current Administration

  • Minister for the Environment: The Hon Greg Hunt MP
  • Secretary for the Department of the Environment and Energy: Dr Gordon de Brouwer
  • Director of National Parks: Sally Barnes
  • Executive Director, Australian National Botanic Gardens: Judy West
  • Director of the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research: Andrew Young
  • Deputy Director (Science and Information): Jim Croft
  • General Manager, Australian National Botanic Gardens: Peter Byron
  • Senior staff managing various aspects of the ANBG:
  • Curator, Living Collections: David Taylor
  • Manager, Development: Craig Cosgrove
  • Manager, Communication and Visitor Services: Steve Speer
  • Curator, Australian National Herbarium: Brendan Lepschi
  • Manager, Botanical Databases: Greg Whitbread
  • Manager, Botanical Information Group and Web: Anna Monro
  • Manager, Administration: Francoise Zaalen-Arbaut

 

  • Find a plant and sections of the Gardens
  • Maps of the Gardens
  • Public art in the Gardens
  • Animals in the Gardens
  • The Gardens environment - rainfall
  • Facts & figures
  • ANBG & CANBR website layout
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 18 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.