On 10 December 2004, the Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope MLA, announced a nationwide, two-stage Design Ideas Competition for the proposed National Arboretum Canberra.
On 30 May 2005, the Chief Minister announced the competition winner, which had been selected by a jury or notable Australian chaired by Sandy Hollway. The winning team was Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (TZG) and Taylor Cullity Lethlean Landscape Architects (TCL).
Considerable progress has been made to implement the TCL/TZG 100 Forests, 100 Gardens concept.
FOREST PLANTINGS
Between 2005 and 2008, 19 forests were planted at the Arboretum (Stage 1 Forest Plantings for 2005 to 2008).
In September 2008, The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA) the Arboretum’s ‘first’ Garden, was opened in its temporary location at Commonwealth Park.
In 2009, a further 22 forests have been planted (Stage 2 Forest Plantings for 2009).
Stage 3 Forest Plantings for 2010: Proposed 2010 Forest Plantings.
Stage 4 Forest Plantings for 2011
Stage 5 Forest Plantings for 2012
CIVIL WORKS
Civil works completed to date include:
- Construction of the Events Terrace;
- An upgrade of the road network;
- Construction of a 37.2 ML dam;
- Installation of water harvesting swales;
- Construction of the Dairy Farmer’s Hill lookout;
- Installation of the sculpture ‘Eagle and Nest’;
- Completion of the earthworks for the Central Valley ceremonial gardens;
- Installation of the sculpture 'Wide Brown Land'; and
- Picnic and pedestrain facilities at the Himilayan Cedar Forest.
What’s next:
- The construction of the Visitor's Centre complex is now underway.
