InterALIA, September 2004

Sesquicentenary at botanic gardens

I interviewed Tony Kanellos, acting information resources manager (including manager of the library) at the Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium regarding the gardens forthcoming birthday celebrations. The Botanic Gardens was set out and planted in 1855 and opened to the public in 1857. The director of the gardens Stephen Forbes and his staff are planning celebrations and major works that will start in 2005 and finish in 2007 to mark the beauty and joy that the gardens give to residents and visitors to South Australia.

The first of two projects that Karen Dankiw, the manager of the library and now Tony are involved in are publishing a commemorative book for the sesquicentenary. This involved hiring a publisher, two authors and a photographer. The authors have researched the manuscripts, archives and library resources and they will produce a beautiful book with colour photographs that will excite people that have an interest in the botanic gardens. The production is partly funded by the Board and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens and should be completed by Christmas 2005.

The second project that Tony is involved in is researching the expedition that the second director of the botanic gardens, Richard Schomburgk and his brother made to British Guiana. Schomburgk brought the famous Victoria Amazonica water lily to Adelaide from British Guiana. The Victoria water lily has been a popular attraction and on view in the purpose built Victoria House. Victoria House and the Schomburgk Range of glasshouses will be replaced by a new Amazon Waterlily Pavilion dedicated to displaying the waterlily and other appropriate plants. Tony is delving into primary and secondary sources that link back to the early Director and his interest in plants and what he learnt about plants and the countries he visited. Tony is translating that information into a guide and liaising with a tour guide for approximately twelve botanists that are planning to retrace (self-funded) Schomburgh's steps in British Guiana.

Stephen Forbes and all the garden staff are currently working on a master plan which will be the strategic plan for the next 150 years; they look to the past, present and the future to provide us with magnificent gardens.