Australian Garden History Society

27/09/2025

The lasting influence of Bruce Mackenzie

Studio JEF director Johnny Ellice-Flint’s favourite garden is Yurulbin Park: a former shipyard landscaped by Bruce Mackenzie in the 1970s.

22/09/2025

A 119 metre-long garden hose — outside the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — joins Australia’s list of iconic ‘big’ things. The artwork by contemporary Australian artists Tony Albert and Nell alludes to Queensland’s domestic architecture, evoking breezy verandahs and subtropical gardens. What would Glenn Cooke have had to say?

In a first for the Queensland Cultural Centre, the artist-designed play sculpture in the form of an oversized 119 metre-long garden hose — outside the Gallery

22/09/2025

Meg Probyn reviews a biography of Richard Sudell, designer of English suburban gardens

If you were born in Britain, I expect privet hedges were very much part of your childhood. The garden design shown on p. 284 of Behind the Privet Hedge (Reaktion Books, Ltd, London, 2024) by Michael Gilson could be my father’s, […]

16/09/2025

Thoughtfully in my backyard: an idea put forward by the National Trust

A thoughtful, place-based approach is not just a heritage principle, it is a key urban design and sustainability principle. It involves understanding local context and responding to the specific conditions, nuance and distinctiveness of a place. This approach ensures the qualities that draw us to li...

15/09/2025

Supported by the Kindred Spirits Fund

13/09/2025

(Right to left) Robert Macklin, Max Bourke, Lenore Coltheart and Steve Thomas in conversation, to celebrate the release of Robert’s book The Man Who Planted Canberra: Charles Weston and His Three Million Trees. For sale at: https://thecuratoreum.com/p/the-man-who-planted-canberra?barcode=9781922507778&search_key=the%20man%20who%20pla

13/09/2025

AGHS supported this project and it was an honour to do so. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1200552985421583&set=a.368866801923543

A first-of-its-kind book by Indigenous author and educator Trish Hodge is being hailed as the most comprehensive guide to traditional First Nations uses of Tasmanian plants in existence. 📕👉 https://bit.ly/41OJlW0

06/09/2025

A podcast to partner your morning coffee. ☕👂🏼

Dr Sarah Edwards (OBGA Plant Records Officer) recently spoke to the Eatweeds Podcast, a series that explores the varied usage of plants across cultures and time periods.

As part of the episode, ethnobotanist Sarah discussed the Garden’s 400-year history and status as the UK's oldest Botanic Garden. She also highlighted the important role that botanic garden conservation work and ethnobotany play in preserving global plant diversity and cultural knowledge. 🌿

This podcast is available to listen to for FREE and you can access it via the link in our bio. 💬

04/09/2025

An interesting online lecture series coming up:

A 5-part online series in partnership with the Garden Museum celebrating the landscape architect William Andrews Nesfield starting 16 Sep@10

03/09/2025

This is a wonderful exhibition that shows the power of collaboration

23/08/2025

AGHS members were closely involved in the Green Necklace concept for conserving Sydney Harbour's heritage. Now the final jewels -- six reserves and parks --are on the NSW State Heritage List.

Six reserves and parks along the inner Sydney Harbour have been added to the NSW State Heritage Register, recognising their unique cultural, environmental, and industrial histories while safeguarding Sydney Harbour’s natural beauty for generations to come.