Speeches
Sunday, 12 October 2025
Wittunga Botanic Garden 50th Anniversary
I am pleased to join you to mark the 50th anniversary of Wittunga Botanic Garden.
Having officially opened the Bird Garden here just a year ago, I note with pleasure that this beautiful garden continues to grow and evolve.
I am also pleased to learn more today about Nature Play SA's new schools program 'Birds in Focus', reflecting the deep connection between education and the natural environment that makes Wittunga such an important community resource.
This garden's story begins with the Ashby family – Edwin and Esther Maria Ashby, who established their home here in 1902, and their descendants who shared their love of botany across generations.
In 1965, the Ashby family gifted this property to the people of South Australia.
When Wittunga opened as a public botanic garden in 1975, it became a place where the community could discover, play, relax and find inspiration.
Over the past fifty years, this garden has faced challenges and celebrated achievements, welcoming over 200,000 visitors each year and establishing itself as a much-loved part of the local landscape.
The Adelaide Botanic Garden very much has the feel of a capital city garden, whereas Wittunga, while still formal in a way, is all about community – a place where families celebrate birthdays, where students learn, and where individuals find moments of quiet reflection.
Wittunga's collections showcase the beauty and resilience of dry climate plants, demonstrating that water-wise gardens featuring Australian and South African flora can be both spectacular and sustainable.
The brilliant displays of Gondwanan plants – the Ericas, Proteas, and native species from Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula – show South Australians what is possible in our climate, offering practical gardening inspiration for everyday life.
I thank the Board and staff of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium for their dedication to this garden, ensuring it remains a living example of horticultural excellence and landscape design.
I also thank the Friends of the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide, whose volunteer efforts enrich all three botanic gardens across Adelaide. I am proud that Rod and I serve as Patrons of this important organisation.
The Grey Box we are planting today – Eucalyptus microcarpa – is native to the Blackwood district and once formed part of the original woodland that Edwin Ashby knew when he first arrived here, making it a fitting symbol of both place and history.
As Wittunga continues to provide South Australians with a place for play, reflection and gardening inspiration, I am deeply encouraged by the garden's role in fostering connection between people and the natural world.
I hope everyone enjoys today's celebrations, and I look forward to the picnic, the music, the guided walks, and the opportunity to engage with this community.
Here's to Wittunga's next fifty years – may this garden continue to flourish, inspire and bring joy to generations to come.