Fern Gully, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

The Fern Gully is the tranquil heart of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. Originally designed by William Guilfoyle, over time this area had become degraded through infestation of Grey Headed Flying Foxes and root disturbance. It was also inaccessible for people with reduced mobility. The restoration of the Fern Gully started with a new boardwalk, which allowed all abilities access, bringing people closer to the incredible plant collection. It continued with the restoration of the Fern Gully Rest House (2018), creation of the new Wellbeing Gardens (2017-19), installation of the Taxodium Deck (2019) and as a final stage, a new Sensory Garden (2020). The designs were carefully developed to support the heritage and botanic needs of the site, while creating contemporary new spaces driven by a desire to provide access to a beautiful place of respite for everyone who visits.

Project Summary

Visit:
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue
Best entrance from Southern Gate (E Gate)
Lead Designer:
Andrew Laidlaw
Client:
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
Year:
2015-2020
Budget:
$800,000* from various philanthropic sources including the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
Team and Collaborators:
Andrew Laidlaw (lead designer) working with Andrea Proctor, Emma Herd and the RBGV team
Warrandale Industries, landscape construction of boardwalk and Taxodium deck
Vivid Landscapes, landscape construction of the Wellbeing gardens
Canterbury Landscapes, landscape construction of the Fern Gully Rest House landscape and Sensory Garden
Wirrawonga Consulting, civil engineering
David Wong, artist, Birds Nest Seat
Royal Botanic Gardens, project management, planting and maintenance
*all budgets approximate

Features

  • Accessible boardwalk through the heritage listed Fern Gully, including three bridges over the creek
  • Accessible viewing deck around the giant Taxodium mucranatum, the tallest tree in the Gardens
  • Refurbishment and new landscaping to the Fern Gully Rest House
  • Three Wellbeing Gardens - private, bespoke spaces hidden off the main path within the Fern Gully 
  • Sensory Garden at the lower end near Central Lake
andrea proctor landscapes
 horticulture | landscape architecture | heritage   
www.andreaproctor.com.au        [email protected]      +61 411 037 886
we are grateful to laidlaw & laidlaw design for allowing us to share projects we completed together