| 1. The Palm Grove
The first palms were planted here in 1862, under the developing canopy of rainforest trees planted by Botanic Gardens’ Superintendent, Charles Fraser in 1828. | | |
| 2. Queensland Kauri Agathis robusta
The magnificent Kauri in the middle of this bed was planted in 1853. It is one of the tallest trees in the Gardens. Another Kauri, an Agathis moorei, grew alongside this tree but died prematurely due to damage caused by Grey-headed Flying- foxes. | | |
| 3. River Oak Casuarina cunninghamiana
The two fine specimens of ‘river oak’ on the western side of the Palm Grove are also named after Allan Cunningham, an explorer, botanist and early Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens. | | |
| 4. Palace Garden Steps
At the top of the steps are two delightful statues, Linda da Chamonix and the Sweep Boy, inspired by characters from the 1842 opera, ‘Linda da Chamonix’, by Donizetti. | | |
| 5. The Boxers
These two statues are copies from the original by the Italian sculptor Antonio Canova. The original marbles, completed in 1802, are now in the Vatican Museum. | | |
| 6. Memorial Garden to [the] Pioneers
Part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of Australia in 1938, this garden was built on the site of the central dome of the Garden Palace. The massive Palace, opened in 1879, was completely destroyed by fire in 1882. | | |
| 7. Govenor Phillip Fountain
Fountain and statue to Governor Arthur Phillip (1738-1814), by the Italian sculptor Achille Simonetti, 1897. | | |
| 8. The Palace Garden Gate
This ornamental gate was built in 1889 to commemorate the International Exhibition, a very popular ‘expo’ of its time. | | |
| 9. Boston’s Mill
Three windmills once existed on the high ground in this area. The plaque indicates the position of Boston’s Mill. | | |
| 10. Conservatorium of Music
Originally designed by colonial architect Francis Greenway as stables for a new Government House, it became the Conservatorium of Music in 1915. | | |
| 11. Nellie Stewart Memorial
The plaque in the middle of the Herb Garden is dedicated to the Actress Nellie Stewart, born in Woolloomooloo in 1858, who held the affection of her audiences for 50 years. | | |
| 12. Kangaroo and Dog Dance Site
At the head of Farm Cove (near the Palm Grove Centre) was an Aboriginal initiation ground. This was documented as the site of the ‘Kangaroo Dance’ and the ‘Dog Dance’, in which young Aboriginal men had a hole bored in their nose to hold a bone or reed. | | |
| 13. Allan Cunningham Memorial
The obelisk in the pond was erected to the memory of Allan Cunningham in 1844. | | |
| 14. Royal Trees
The broad-leaved paperbark, Melaleuca quinquenervia, and the cabbage tree palm, Livistona australis, were planted in 1881, by Prince George (later King George V), and Prince Albert Victor of Wales respectively. | | |
| 15. Replacement Wishing Tree
This replacement Wishing Tree was planted in 1935, when it became apparent that the original Wishing Tree (see stop 26) was dying. | | |
| 16. ‘Swamp Oaks’ Casuarina glauca
These ‘swamp oaks’ are suckers from original trees that grew on this site. The adjacent pavilion was erected in 1929 in memory of a former Botanic Gardens’ Director, Joseph Henry Maiden. | | |
| 17. Original Gum Tree
This forest red gum, Eucalyptus tereticornis, is part of the native vegetation of the area. From time to time it has been a home to bees, cockatoos and parrots. | | |
| 18. Bunya Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwillii
This species was named after John Bidwill, who was briefly Director (the first time this term had been used) of the Botanic Gardens in 1847. | | |
| 19. Lion Gate in Macquarie Wall
The Lion Gate in the 1812 Macquarie Wall was created in 1901. The stone piers (dated 1864) come from the old Victoria House entrance. The statues of the Lion and Lioness were presented to the Botanic Gardens in 1912 from the estate of Edward Sanders. | | |
| 20. Spring Walk
Azaleas were first planted in the beds south of the Macquarie Wall in 1856, during the time of Botanic Gardens’ Director Charles Moore. Since then, the 'Spring Walk' has become a much loved horticultural feature of the Royal Botanic Gardens. However, over time, the plants have begun to look less than their best due to soil borne diseases and old age. We are taking the opportunity now to revitalise the beds. Over the next twelve months the soil will be rested. The beds will then be replanted with a range of beautiful spring flowering trees, shrubs and perennials. These will provide a framework for spring displays for many years to come. | | |
| 21. Sydney’s First Zoo
The Succulent Garden was built on the site of Sydney’s first Zoo. An aviary had been built here as early as 1856. Most of the non-avian creatures were taken to Moore Park in 1883. | | |
| 22. Museum and Lecture Hall
The original one-storey building, with the words ‘Museum and Lecture Hall’ above the doorway, was completed in 1878. The second stage of the building was completed in 1899 (and officially opened in 1901). | | |
| 23. Royal Tree
This rare Brazilian rainforest tree with the large leaves, Chrysophyllum imperiale, was planted by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1868. | | |
| 24. Solander Garden
This garden is dedicated to the Swedish botanist, Daniel Solander, who accompanied Joseph Banks and James Cook to eastern Australia in 1770. | | |
| 25. Chinese Cabbage Palms
Imported in tubs from the Isle de Bourbon (Reunion Island, Indian Ocean) in 1840 and planted in December of that year. | | |
| 26. Site of Original Wishing Tree
The ‘I Wish’ statue commemorates the original ‘Wishing Tree’, a Norfolk Island Pine, which was removed in 1945. Significantly, one of the world’s rarest trees, the Wollemi Pine (discovered in 1994), has now been planted here. | | |
| 27. Cadi Jam Ora - First Encounters
The modern transformation of the Australian continent began in these Botanic Gardens, and can be regarded as the ‘first frontier’ between Aboriginal and European societies. This four-bed display conveys Aboriginal people’s prior use of the site and their understanding of plants and the environment. | | |
| 28. Grave of Joseph Gerrald
The Scottish Martyr and barrister, Joseph Gerrald, was a political prisoner, convicted of ‘sedition’ and transported for 14 years. He was permitted to farm here, and was buried somewhere between the site of the Wollemi Pine and the creek. | | |
| 29. First Farm in Australia plaque
Governor Arthur Phillip established a Government Farm here in 1788, as the name of the nearest bay (Farm Cove) commemorates today. Governor Macquarie transformed the site into a Garden, (1816), making this the oldest continuous garden in Australia. The Gardens Shop in the Palm Grove Centre has various books on the history of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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