Herbarium A new home for a precious resource

The recently unveiled National Herbarium of New South Wales

PROTECTING OUR PAST AND FUTURE

After nearly 170 years residing in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, one of the world’s most significant and precious botanical resources officially moved into its new home last month.

The opening of the National Herbarium of New South Wales at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan brought to conclusion a planning and construction process that began in earnest back in 2018 with a $60 million investment by the NSW State Government.

The collection itself continues to expand, with around 8,000 new plant specimens added every year to the more than one million that now reside in six protective vaults, each featuring precisely controlled environmental conditions.

We asked some of those involved in the Herbarium project to explain, in their own words, what the opening of the new Herbarium means to them personally, and to Australia.

DENISE ORA Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust “They say it takes a community to raise a child and the same can be said for building a new herbarium. Since completing the business case in 2017/18 it has been nonstop. Adding to an already big challenge we decided to go one step further and digitise the collection. I am so proud of the extraordinary efforts from all staff involved. The launch of the Australian Institute of Botanical Science (AIBS) in March 2021 and the completion of the new Herbarium is a clear statement to the world of our commitment to advancing the fundamental knowledge of plants. We will continue the journey of discovering, understanding, and protecting plants, and inspiring the next generation of plant scientists to ensure Australia’s plant species are protected for generations to come.”

DR BRETT SUMMERELL Chief Scientist and Director Research “When I started as a Science Director in 2004 there were several initiatives that I felt were required to take our science programs to the next level. We needed to: have a stronger focus on plant conservation, secure new infrastructure to facilitate ex-situ and germplasm conservation, build a new herbarium to better protect and expand our collection, and unlock the data in the collection for the whole community to use. We have achieved all these goals through the employment of creative scientists, the construction of the Australian PlantBank, and now the new Herbarium and the digitisation of the collection. These initiatives ensure we stay at the forefront of botanical science nationally and internationally.”

JOHN SIEMON Director Horticulture “Less than a decade ago we attempted a remarkably similar project in the middle of a global economic downturn. That project resulted in the globally celebrated PlantBank, which transformed the direction of our plant conservation programs and the way in which our community engaged with our science and facilities. How fortunate we are that with the delivery of the new Herbarium, constructed in the middle of a global pandemic, we also achieved a wonderful upgrade of our conservation nursery facilities. Combined, these world-class facilities

'We will continue the journey of discovering, understanding, and protecting plants'

and the talented AIBS staff will be instrumental in leading our response to plant conservation and protecting our plant life for future generations.”

GEORGE SALOUROS Director, Asset Management, Planning and Projects “As Project Director for the construction of the facilities and the coordination of associated workstreams this sits as a highlight of my career. More than just a building, this whole area represents a further development of the good work done in establishing the Australian PlantBank. It is also a further step in the journey of making the Australian Botanic Garden a world recognised centre for botanical sciences in what is an increasingly westward shift of Sydney’s development. Ultimately this is only one small contribution by me (amongst many others) in a 60,205-year human chain of First Nations and Royal Botanic Garden history, with a horizon stretching far into the future.”

JO WHITE Director Science, Education and Conservation “It has been a privilege to be part of the full journey working with the architects, science team, fellow directors and wider project team in designing and building the new Herbarium. It is a priceless and irreplaceable collection, and the building design reflects world’s best practice in maximising protection. The layout reflects the journey of a specimen, we have world-class science facilities and ample room for future expansion, assisted by the addition of a sixth vault. As stewards of this remarkable collection we are united in ensuring it is protected for future generations.”

The Herbarium’s ‘green’ design features include solar rooftop panels and rainwater harvesting technology

(L–R) Rob Stokes, NSW Minister for Infrastructure, Cities, and Active Transport, Denise Ora, Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, and Stuart Ayres, NSW Minister for Western Sydney

(L–R) Dr Ganesha Liyanage (Rainforest Conservation Scientist) and Dr Marco Duretto (Senior Botanist)