Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens
Recognition of Outstanding Community Contribution to Heritage Place
The Friends of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens was founded in 1982 and links Council and the Ballarat community. (They also get to say things we can only think) This award acknowledges their development of a plant nursery that has raised funds for projects to maintain and enhance the Ballarat Botanical Gardens for community benefit; for restoration of the Claxton Memorial Fountain and Thomas Stoddart grave; for researching and developing a booklet on the heritage trees in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and their contribution to the redevelopment of the western bed.
The Friends have also developed a program of events to celebrate the gardens 150th in 2007, their sourcing of funding for conservation works on the 1857 gardens plans and their support when first discussing the return of the Stoddart Statues to their original pedestals in 2010. The next exciting project the friends have committed to is funding of restoration of the McDonald gateway, 8 column and stone column pergola.