Speeches
Monday, 20 October 2025
Reception for National Conference for Botanic Gardens Guides
As joint patrons of the Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, Rod and I welcome guides from across Australia and New Zealand to Government House this afternoon.
I trust you have all enjoyed the first official day of the 18th Australasian Botanic Garden Guides Conference.
Botanic gardens are extraordinary places where scientific endeavour meets public engagement, and where conservation work sits alongside cultural experiences.
The Adelaide Botanic Garden exemplifies this balance, maintaining an outstanding scientific collection of plants while drawing visitors from across Australia and around the world to enjoy remarkable experiences, from the recent Dale Chihuly exhibition to Illuminate and the Adelaide Festival.
Friends organisations play an essential role in enabling botanic gardens to fulfil these diverse functions, and I appreciate greatly the generous dedication of time, energy and expertise given by volunteer guides.
At Government House we are fortunate to have guides from the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide conduct tours of Government House on Open Days, most recently on 12 October, and once a month during the warmer months before our Lunch on the Lawns program.
Participants in our tours have commented on the guides' professional knowledge, as well as their ability to connect visitors with the prominent features and hidden gems in our gardens.
In fact our summer garden tours often book out, a testament no doubt to our very capable guides!
The skills of local guides are in demand: in 2024-25, the 61 Adelaide guides contributed more than 20,000 volunteer hours to the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium.
This is a strong demonstration of dedication and community service.
I recognise that Friends organisations face challenges in the current environment, particularly in retaining volunteer numbers.
I am heartened by the resilience and commitment shown by guides and Friends across Australasia.
The conference theme, 'Visions and Visionaries: Past, Present and Future', resonates strongly with the history of Government House and its gardens.
These grounds have evolved considerably since their original form, adapting to serve different functions while maintaining their essential character as a place of natural beauty and public engagement.
The garden continues to evolve today through initiatives such as our Wildlife Hollow programme, which has seen the installation of wildlife boxes across the grounds to support hollow-dependent species which struggle to find habitat in urban environments.
We have also established a rewilding garden at the northern end of the grounds, planted with South Australian native species to encourage native insects, lizards, butterflies and other local wildlife.
These changes reflect a broader shift in how we understand and manage green spaces — moving from purely aesthetic concerns to embrace ecological restoration and biodiversity conservation.
Friends
I note from your programme that you will have opportunities, in the coming days, to visit our two botanic gardens outside the CBD - Mount Lofty Botanic Garden and Wittunga Botanic Garden, which I recently visited to help celebrate its 50th anniversary - as well as the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa, and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
I hope you will also take advantage of the many cultural and historical attractions Adelaide has to offer during your spare time, from the institutions of North Terrace to the Adelaide Central Market and beyond.
I thank the Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide for coordinating this conference and for creating opportunities for guides to share knowledge, experiences and best practices.
Rod and I trust you will have a productive and enjoyable gathering, deepening friendships and forging new connections across your shared interests.
May your work continue to deepen the public's understanding of, connection to, and love for, the botanical world.