Civic Reception for the 50th anniversary of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha

Lord Mayor of Brisbane City, The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane City, Councillor Adrian Schrinner; Councillors and staff; Brisbane Botanic Gardens Curator, Mrs Prue McGruther, and former curators Mr Dale Arvidsson and Mr Ross McKinnon AM; and amongst such esteemed botanical authorities, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge our own Government House Horticultural Coordinator, Mr Richard Symmonds; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. 

I begin by also acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here this morning. 

And I thank members of Tribal Experience for that uplifting Welcome to Country. 

It is wonderful to join you this afternoon as we celebrate this remarkable 50th anniversary milestone of the iconic Brisbane Botanic Gardens at Mount Coot-tha. 

For half a century, these botanic gardens at the foot of Mount Coot-tha have stood as one of our city’s most significant landmarks, while also serving as a popular weekend and school holiday destination for local families, nature enthusiasts, exercise groups, green thumbs, and even the amateur astronomers among us! 

Looking around at these lush green landscapes today, it’s hard to imagine that early European surveyors cleared much of the precinct’s vegetation—except for a large solitary gum tree at the summit, earning Mount Coot-tha at the time the name of 'One Tree Hill'.  

The work done to restore and replenish this area in the years since is nothing short of astonishing, as are the improvements since the Brisbane City Council took control of the Mount Coot-tha precinct 50 years ago.

In this time, the gardens have been expanded to accommodate one of Australia’s most significant living plant collections, and most comprehensive range of Australian native rainforest trees.

This living subtropical museum attracts over one-million visitors each year, and has become an important place for conservation, environmental awareness and sustainability, as well as for immersive visitor experiences. 

Today, the gardens—which house many rare and threatened plants, as well as species of great scientific value—offer an extraordinary living legacy of the quiet, ongoing work of Council staff, along with the many curators, horticulturalists, landscape architects, volunteers and community members who have cared for them with dedication, expertise and pride. Ongoing research, seed banking and conservation partnerships have helped to safeguard biodiversity far beyond these garden gates. 

I extend my sincere thanks to the Brisbane City Council and the Lord Mayor for their stewardship of this extraordinary place. These Botanic Gardens reflect their long‑term vision, careful planning and a deep respect for the natural world.  

Yet perhaps the greatest value of these gardens lies in what they offer to the people of Brisbane. For residents, this is a place to walk, to breathe, to reflect, and to reconnect with nature. It is a place where families learn and play, where children discover the wonders of the natural world, and where communities come together for festivals, workshops, and quiet moments of joy.  

As we mark this 50‑year milestone, I am confident these gardens will remain a sanctuary for learning, conservation and natural beauty for decades to come.  

On behalf of Queenslanders, I thank all those involved in protecting, sustaining and enhancing them for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.