Adelaide Botanic Garden Masterplan Review August 2020 In the production of this Masterplan Review, T.C.L has collaborated intensely with key staff at the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium of South Australia. T.C.L would like to acknowledge the critically important inputs of Director Dr Lucy Sutherland, Deputy Director Dr Leonie Scriven, Cultural Collections Manager Tony Kanellos, and Major Projects and Assets Manager Andrew Carrick. We also acknowledge the invaluable contributions of all Gardens staff who participated in the early workshop phase of the Review. Rev Description Date By Checked Approved 1 Final draft 14.05.20 SB DS KC 2 Final 28.05.20 SB DS KC 3 Amendments 31.08.20 SB DS KC Contents 1 Introduction 5 2 Current BGSH Plans and Policies 9 2.1 Strategic Plan 2017 - 2022 11 2.2 Policies 12 3 New Emerging Considerations 15 3.1 Organisational Considerations 17 3.2 Site Considerations 18 4 Site Analysis 23 4.1 Existing Context and Land Use 25 4.2 Garden Precinct: Recent and Planned Developments 26 4.3 Existing Waterways 27 4.4 Existing Landscape Structure 28 4.5 Existing Formal Axes / View Corridors 29 4.6 Existing Heritage 30 4.7 Existing Movement: Pedestrian and Cyclist 32 4.8 Existing Movement: Vehicular 33 4.9 Existing Collections and Displays 34 5 Completed Projects and Actions Post 2006 37 6 Key Issues and Objectives 43 6.1 Garden Composition 45 6.1.1 Garden Site 45 6.1.2 Buildings 49 6.2 Visitor Experience 52 6.2.1 Site Facilities 52 6.2.2 Education and Interpretation 57 6.2.3 Events and Functions 58 6.3 Collections 61 7 Strategic Responses and Actions 65 7.1 Garden Composition 67 7.1.1 Garden Site 67 7.1.2 Buildings 71 7.2 Visitor Experience 73 7.2.1 Site Facilities 73 7.2.2 Education and Interpretation 77 7.2.3 Events and Functions 78 7.3 Collections 79 7.3.1 Living Collections 79 7.3.2 Herbarium Collections 80 8 Guiding Design Principles 83 9 Adelaide Botanic Garden Masterplan 89 9.1 Masterplan Drawings 92 9.2 Priority Projects 94 9.3 Delivery Plan 100 3 Introduction 1 February 2019 5 1. Introduction PURPOSE OF THE MASTERPLAN taking into account the changes over the past decade within the Adelaide CBD and the precinct surrounding The purpose of the Masterplan is to provide the guiding Adelaide Botanic Garden. principles and a strategic framework for long-term decision making. By identifying future projects and Section 4 covers site analysis, using a graphic format, setting priorities, the Masterplan provides a basis for and reviews areas such as surrounding land use, recent infrastructure planning and investment. and planned developments, existing waterways, existing landscape structure, heritage, current user movement While the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State patterns and existing collections and displays. The Herbarium’s (the Board) Strategic Plan 2017-22 provides following section (5) of the study presents a summary a vision and strategic framework for the institution, the of the status of the projects and actions since 2006 Masterplan translates this framework into infrastructure arising either directly from the previous Masterplan, or requirements for the Adelaide Botanic Garden. undertaken independantly. The Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium (BGSH) In Section 6 of the study, issues for the Masterplan 1 manages three gardens and an experimental field site – are grouped into three categories and a number the Adelaide Botanic Garden (including Botanic Park), of subcategories, with an Objective stated for each Mount Lofty Botanic Garden, Wittunga Botanic Garden subcategory. These Objectives are the basis for the and the Botanic Reserves under the Botanic Gardens preparation of a set of Strategic Responses that form and State Herbarium Act (1978). The Botanic Gardens the framework of Section 7. Each Strategic Response of Adelaide Masterplan Report (July 2006) presented a describes broad directions for future actions within the plan for Adelaide Botanic Garden and Botanic Park, as Garden; the actions are subsequently listed. INTRODUCTION well as Mount Lofty Botanic Garden. This Masterplan supersedes the 2006 Masterplan in relation to Adelaide The final two sections (8 and 9) illustrate the Botanic Garden. development of a revised ABG Site Masterplan, through conceptual analysis of key site planning determinants, Adelaide Botanic Garden is one of the State’s most before arriving at a final recommended site Masterplan, visited and loved institutions. Established in 1855, a concentrated list of the critical priority projects, and the Garden has developed with the city, providing a finally a full Delivery Plan to realise the Masterplan. rich array of leisure, tourism, cultural and scientific opportunities for the community and visitors. The PROCESS Garden has significant cultural heritage values. The preparation of a revised Masterplan has involved STRUCTURE OF THE STUDY extensive consultation with the Board, Gardens management and staff. In addition, presentations to a This Masterplan sets out a contextual basis through broad range of stakeholders have been delivered and a review of the 2006 Masterplan and operating input has been sought during this consultation process. parameters of Adelaide Botanic Garden, and the This consultation included the Friends of the Botanic history and physical attributes of the site. Following this Gardens of Adelaide, the City of Adelaide, North Terrace introduction, Section 2 of the study specifically reviews Cultural Institutions, Zoos SA, the Department for the overall purpose of the Garden and the current Environment and Water and Renewal SA. management and policy framework under which the institution operates. Several consultation sessions enabled staff to respond to draft analysis and actions developed for various sites Section 3 presents new emerging considerations within Adelaide Botanic Garden. 7 Current BGSH Plans and Policies 2 9 2. Current BGSH Plans and Policies 2.1 Strategic Plan 2017 - 2022 The Board’s first Strategic Plan, developed for the 2002- Facilitating Lifelong Learning and Engagement 2005 period, immediately preceded the 2006 Masterplan • Become a destination for horticultural and botanical for Adelaide Botanic Garden and Mount Lofty Botanic learning by providing spaces for enriched, evolving Garden. Since that time, four consecutive Plans have and innovative learning experiences; been produced (2007-2009, 2009-2012, 2012-2017, • Develop a culturally diverse range of collections to 2017-2022), each plotting a course for strategic growth engage a broader demographic of visitors; and detailing priorities for the organisation as a whole • Engage with secondary and tertiary students, and for BGSH’s three Garden sites. including those from the Adelaide Botanic High School, to build lifelong connections with the The focus of the current Strategic Plan 2017-22 is to Garden; and develop BGSH as a global destination through focusing • Develop innovative ways of interpreting the on three key areas: “creating destination gardens”, Garden’s collections, science, horticulture and “deepening science”, and “facilitating lifelong learning research. 2 and engagement”. The Strategic Plan 2017-2022 also nominates several Taken one-by-one, the activities to address these focus key actions aimed at enhancing the profile of the areas at the Adelaide Botanic Garden over the next five Garden’s staff and expertise, evolving the Garden’s years include: business model through adapting new funding opportunities, including the generation of revenue Creating Destinations Gardens through commercialisation and non-government funding • Undertake a formal review and update of the 2006 programmes, diversifying and strengthening scientific Adelaide Botanic Garden Masterplan (this report); and public partnerships, and finally commencing the • A revitalisation of the living collection, and process to secure support for a new unified centre for diversification of the herbarium, living and cultural BGSH on the Adelaide Botanic Garden estate. collections; • Develop a Management Plan for Botanic Park; FOUNDATION DOCUMENTS CURRENT BGSH PLANS AND POLICIES • Raise the standard of the site’s infrastructure To support the implementation of the Botanic Gardens to improve visitor experience and working and State Herbarium Act 1978, the Botanic Gardens and environment; and State Herbarium Regulations 2007, the Strategic Plan • Promote the Garden as a flagship cultural institution and this Masterplan, several foundation documents in the North Terrace cultural precinct, offering have been created or are identified as needing to be unique tourist experiences. created. These documents are: • Adelaide Botanic Garden Conservation Study 2006 Deepening Our Science • Code of Ethics for the Botanic Gardens and State • Increase efficiencies in the application of Herbarium 2007 information and technology management systems, • Facility Asset Management Plan and modernising collections management • Adelaide Botanic Gardens: Waterways Study 2003 practices; • Adelaide Botanic Garden Style Guide (Draft) • Acting to assist in the conservation of SA flora and • BGSH Tourism Strategy reducing the risk to threatened species; and • various BGSH policy documents (see next section) • Proactively demonstrating carbon-neutrality practices to the community. 11 2.2 Policies COLLECTIONS POLICIES 2013 (Adopted) ASSET MANAGEMENT POLICY (DEW Adopted) The Living, Herbarium and Cultural Collection policies The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) is are part of the strategy to conserve and enhance the committed to applying