In this, the 200-year anniversary of the first Director of what was then the Botanical Gardens, Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, we invite you to join us in supporting the 2025 Appeal which aims to restore the heritage arbours, seats and arches in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

The arbours in the Gardens were created in the 1860s under Baron von Mueller’s directorship and are mentioned in his report to the Parliament in 1865 when his Directorship was beginning to come under pressure. He assessed his improvements including buildings, fences, furniture, waterworks and library at 27,00 pounds in an attempt to give a value to the work he had completed and thus persuade Parliament to retain him as Director. In his own words, Von Mueller was keen to place his seats where people could get the ‘most cheerful view’ trying to conform to calls to make the Gardens ‘more enjoyable for recreation’.

Funding through this year’s Appeal will help support the restoration of these beautiful heritage structures. The restoration will be completed with advice from Heritage Victoria employing quality craftsmanship we have come to expect from the Gardens.

The cost of repairs is $270,00 and is likely to represent a two or three year funding commitment for the Trust.

The restoration work includes repairing the arbours and seats, repairing hard surfaces such as paving and or rockwork and rejuvenating the surrounding landscape in which they are situated.

The Appeal is hoping to raise a record amount in 2025 to ensure that these beautiful features can be used by future generations of visitors to the Gardens who can also enjoy ‘the cheerful view’.

Sincerely,

Will Jones

Chairman of the Friends Trust Fund.