Brisbane City Botanic Gardens

Location

The Brisbane City Botanic Gardens is located on a point known as Gardens Point on the Brisbane River adjacent to the central business district of the city of Brisbane. The gardens area has frontages on both Alice Street and George Street.

The City Botanic Gardens are the city’s oldest park, originally planted by convicts in 1825 with food crops to feed the prison colony. These gardens include ancient trees, rainforest glades and exotic species. They run the full length of Alice Street, bordered by Parliament House on the one side and the Brisbane River’s northern banks on the other. They provide a lush green haven for city workers and visitors.

Due to the proximity to the river, the Botanic Gardens have been flooded eight times between 1870 – 1974. With many plants being washed away, the Brisbane City Council established a new botanic gardens at Mount Coot-tha.

There are free guided walks available from Monday to Saturdays at approximately 11.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. (excluding public holidays). The walks are at a gentle pace, last approximately one hour and are led by experienced friendly Volunteer Guides. Meet at the Rotunda near the Alice Street Main Entrance (I’ve actually aken this tour and even though I’m not a ‘garden person’, found it very interessting – site admin).

Points of interest in the gardens include:

The City Gardens Cafe (originally the curator’s house)
The Walter Hill Fountain
Gardens Cycle Hire station at Albert Street entrance

As well as -

Birdwatching
Cycling
Self-Guided
Bicycle Rack
Toilet facilities
Picnic Area
Public Toilet
Shaded Area
Flora/Fauna
Nature based

Brisbane City Gardens

Children are welcome throughout the Gardens but close supervision is recommended, particularly in the Children’s Playground. Close supervision is also recommended along the Brisbane River frontage of the Gardens and near the lagoons and other water features.

Along with being a botanic gardens, the gardens also have many other functions. Many office workers from the nearby business district use the gardens for reading and laying on grass in lunchtimes. It is a popular venue for weddings. A wedding can be seen nearly every weekend.

At the rear of the gardens is Brisbane River Stage, in which many council concerts and big band names take place, as well as the annual Lord Mayor’s Christmas Carols every Christmas. There are also guided walks, self-guided walks, picnic areas and a restaurant on the grounds of the botanic gardens.

The gardens are open 24 hours, with pathways lit at night.