Garden status boost, name change

The National Rhododendron Garden in Olinda is set to become Australia’s newest botanical garden.
Member for Monbulk James Merlino on Friday 19 May announced the garden will undergo a name change and be formally gazetted as a botanic garden by Parks Victoria later this year.
The proposed changes recognise the significance of the extensive plant collections at the National Rhododendron Garden and enhance the Dandenong Ranges’ reputation as one of Victoria’s great garden destinations.
Mr Merlino encouraged the community to provide feedback.
“This is a great opportunity for the community to have a say in the future of the National Rhododendron Garden,” he said.
“I’d like to encourage the community to have a look at the information about the proposed name change and provide feedback to Parks Victoria.”
The National Rhododendron Garden is more diverse than the current name suggests.
In addition to Rhododendrons, the National Rhododendron Garden boasts a large collection of rare and exotic plants, including magnolias, camellias, proteas and cherry trees.
It also features a collection of Southern Chinese plans, an alpine plant collection and examples of one of the world’s oldest and rarest trees – the Wollemi pine.
Many of these plants are endangered and are adapted to the cool-climate of the Dandenong Ranges.
Parks Victoria is proposing two alternate new names for the community to choose from as part of a public consultation process in May and June 2017.
The suggested options are Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden and Olinda Botanic Garden.
Alternatively, members of the public can also suggest a new name.
The National Rhododendron Garden is one of seven diverse gardens of significant botanic, heritage and sightseeing value in the Dandenong Ranges managed by Parks Victoria.
The seven gardens cover 235ha and are located just 45 minutes east of Melbourne’s central business district.
For more information on how you can have our say on the new name for the National Rhododendron Garden, visit www.parks.vic.gov.au/botanicgarden.