The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (FRBGV, The Friends) was established in 1982 as a not for profit membership based organisation for people who love the Royal Botanic Gardens VIctoria (RBGV) Melbourne Gardens, including the National Herbarium of Victoria, and who want to support conservation and scientific research.
The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Trust Fund (the Trust Fund) was established by The Friends in 1986, with the purpose, as stated in the founding Trust Deed, “to conserve, protect and foster the development of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the National Herbarium of Victoria”.
Originally the Trust Fund sought to encourage tax-deductible donations for distribution to the RBGV. Following receipt of a substantial bequest from the late Helen McLellan in 2008, and after consultation with the major stakeholders, the Trustees decided to maintain a permanent corpus that, prudently invested, would become a continuing source of distributable funds to support RBGV.
Background to the Trust Fund
The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (FRBGV, The Friends) was established in 1982 as a not for profit membership based organisation for people who love the Royal Botanic Gardens VIctoria (RBGV) Melbourne Gardens, including the National Herbarium of Victoria, and who want to support conservation and scientific research.
The Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne Trust Fund (the Trust Fund) was established by The Friends in 1986, with the purpose, as stated in the founding Trust Deed, “to conserve, protect and foster the development of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the National Herbarium of Victoria”.
Originally the Trust Fund sought to encourage tax-deductible donations for distribution to the RBGV. Following receipt of a substantial bequest from the late Helen McLellan in 2008, and after consultation with the major stakeholders, the Trustees decided to maintain a permanent corpus that, prudently invested, would become a continuing source of distributable funds to support RBGV.
Government Regulation
The Fund is subject to the legislated guidelines for Public Ancillary Funds (PAFs) that came into force on 1 January 2012. Government oversight of the Trust Fund’s activities is undertaken through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) to whom annual returns are submitted. The Trust Fund complies with all regulatory requirements, which, among other things, requires a distribution of 4% of the value of Opening Net Assets to the RBGV each year.
Trustees
Chairman Will Jones
Trustees Mark Calder
Jeremy Gibson
Catherine Trinca
Mary Ward
Support Us
With your support, we can continue to make a lasting impact at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
Trust Fund Projects
Through the Friends of the Gardens and their Trust Fund, over $3.5 million has been contributed towards projects within the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and the National Herbarium of Victoria.