10 things you may not know about the Botanic Gardens
It’s humble beginnings
The Botanic Gardens as we know it today is pristine – but it didn’t always look this way.
The land was once leased out and some areas were planted with sugarcane. Other areas were water reserves and grazing leases.
The Railways Department steam trains used the lagoon next to Thornhill Street as their water supply until the advent of diesel locomotives.
The lagoon was also utilised by early settlers as a fresh water supply and resting and watering place for cattle.
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Spectacular range of flora and fauna
The Botanic Gardens covers over 27 hectares of land and features a variety of more than 10,000 trees and shrubs.
At the heart of the Botanic Gardens are the magnificent lakes which create a diverse habitat attracting up to 114 species of birds.
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Centuries of history in one tree
The well-maintained lawns of the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens don’t reveal its history as a dairy farm, but local man Paul Trammachi remembers well the time he spent there as a boy.
The towering, historical fig tree adjacent to Fairymead House holds some of Paul’s fondest memories.
He estimates the tree would be about 500 to 600 years old.
Sugar, steam and all things flight
There is an abundance of attractions for locals and visitors alike to enjoy within the Bundaberg Botanic Gardens.
Fairymead House, the Hinkler Hall of Aviation and the Bundaberg Historical Museum allow you to immerse yourself in the Bundaberg Region’s rich history.
Hinkler House is open for self-guided tours and the Australian Sugar Cane Railway offer train rides for those of all ages.
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TIMBER: Plans chopped in favour of tree appreciation
According to Botanic Gardens and Horticulture Area Supervisor Cody Johnson, trees within the area known as the Woodworkers Guild were originally established in the 1980s and 1990s for timber harvest, with its members committed to creating a renewable sustainable forest.
However tree labels were lost in floods, leaving the area largely forgotten.
Cody said the Guild and Council now wished to retain the trees permanently so visitors could appreciate them for more than just their fine timber qualities.
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