Case Studies

Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens

Design Feature

Type of project
Masterplan
State
Queensland
Location
Urban
Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens are located in Benowa, a 10-minute drive from central Surfers Paradise. Set on 31 hectares of parkland and lakes, the Botanical Gardens showcase the incredibly diverse ecological communities of the South East Queensland region, and act as a gateway to the city’s extensive nature conservation estate. The Gardens are also a valuable green space in the heart of the city, as well as an important habitat for native flora and fauna.
The development of the masterplan for the Botanic Gardens involved more than 18 months of investigation, site analysis and community consultation, championed by Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens. The masterplan was adopted by City of Gold Coast in 2002 and the first plantings took place in 2003, involving the Gold Coast community.
Retreat in the heart of the city
Development of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Garden began in 2003 following an extensive campaign by the Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens for a Botanic Garden on the Gold Coast. A master plan was completed in 2002, following extensive community consultation, with the central theme of a Mountains to Mangroves Trail, showcasing the unique and diverse ecosystems of South East Queensland. 
Since 2003, the Friends and the community have planted over 20,000 plants along the Mountains to Mangroves Trail. In 2006, Rotary International sponsored the creation of a Sensory Garden for people with disabilities, and in 2009 the Friends Centre opened, becoming a hub for visitor information, educational workshops and activities. 
Australian Indigenous culture is a strong theme throughout the Botanic Gardens. The Story of our Country Garden, constructed in 2016 by a Green Army team, takes visitors on a journey through local Yugambeh Country, and the Indigenous Plant Use Trail showcases how many local plants have been, and still are, used by Traditional Owners.
The Kaialgumm Games Trail gives people the chance to explore the games that have been played by Indigenous children in many parts of Australia for hundreds of years. The word Kaialgumm comes from the local Yugambeh language of the Gold Coast.
Project team
  • Council of the City of Gold Coast
  • Friends of the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens Inc
  • Masterplan developed by Landplan Studio 2002

Project Cost
Current annual operating budget approximately $1,012,000
Health value
  • The five kilometres of footpaths and boardwalks throughout the Gardens provide a green, shady walking route that is used daily by many local residents. The paths are wide and gentle providing access for all abilities. Smaller mulch and gravel tracks provide more adventurous visitors with a chance to explore hidden groves and gardens.
  • Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens additionally host a variety of formal recreational activities for visitors, including exercise classes, guided walks and children’s activities.

Economic value
  • Traffic counts indicate around 9,000 –10,000 visits per week, including a mix of local regulars, and visitors from interstate and overseas. The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens provides visitors with a great introduction to the diverse South East Queensland flora, inspiring them to explore some of the incredible world heritage listed national parks in the hinterland.
  • Many local schools take advantage of the free, curriculum-based Education at the Gardens programme. Additionally, the Gardens work closely with Gold Coast TAFE to provide opportunities for horticulture students to gain practical on-site experience, and have hosted numerous Skilling Queenslanders for Work and Green Army trainees.

Environmental value
  • Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens aims to showcase, protect and preserve South East Queensland’s plant diversity, through its living plant collection that represents Gold Coast plant communities from the Mangroves to the Mountains.
  • The Rare and Threatened Plants Trail is an interpretive trail that highlights the importance of our protected plant species and how people can help protect them.
  • The Friends nursery helps to propagate some of the rare and locally significant plant species for sale to local gardeners, helping to increase backyard biodiversity.
  • Education programs at the Gardens, including the curriculum-based primary schools program, kids in conservation school holiday activities, guided walks, science week and open day events and community planting days all help to educate and inspire the community about biodiversity conservation, sustainability and the environment.
  • Recent irrigation upgrades aim to install water-efficient sprinkler heads, flow meters and rain water sensors so that irrigation can be aligned and managed according to rainfall and evapotranspiration.
  • Since the first plantings in 2003, the transformation of a largely grassed landscape into a vegetated one has provided a haven for wildlife in the heart of the city, with diverse bird and insect populations.

Social value
  • The Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens provide many opportunities for social connection and engagement, from organised exercise groups, to free community events, to the informal social interactions of regular daily walkers.
  • The Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens provide a community volunteer group that is not only working to build the city’s social capital through education and outreach programs, but also connects its volunteers together. This active group of volunteers provides opportunities for connection, friendship and inclusion.

Use value
  • Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens provide opportunities and access for Gold Coast residents to engage in healthy behaviours, including walking, gardening, tai chi and running.
  • Friends of Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens provide an entry point for the local community to engage with the Botanic Gardens, through volunteering in physical, social and educational activities.
  • Any of the activities provided, including community events, school holiday activities and volunteering, offer engagement opportunities for the community.

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