The Gift of Life garden commemorates the importance of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The garden’s combination of carefully selected plantings and placement of elements conveys the concept of “cycle of life” through the constant underlying rhythm of a heartbeat.
Using traditional Japanese design principles, the Gift of Life garden displays a subtle balance and location of elements rather than creating focus on specific features. The materials used are simple and site specific; decomposed granite, granite rock, timber segments, corten steel rings and a perennial based planting colour scheme which reflects the cycle of life within seasons. The soft, muted tones are offset by a grid of white trunked trees that give structure to the garden and create a ceiling to the space.
The garden comprises winding paths, a mixture of plants, rock features, cascading water, viewing portals and a nook with an inspiring symbolic sculpture.
It is a place for quiet reflection and appreciation of the wonderful gift of donors and their families, the renewed life of transplant recipients, and the work of the medical and health professionals. The garden has been designed with the hope of inspiring new donors to give the gift of life.
Gift of Life Incorporated is a Canberra-based not-for-profit association which promotes organ and tissue donation and transplantation. The Australian Government through its DonateLife Program encourages Australians to increase their awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation in saving lives through highly successful transplant procedures. People are encouraged to educate themselves and to discuss their personal decision regarding organ and tissue donation with their family and close friends.
Designed by the team at Somewhere Landscape Architects led by Alex Dalglish
Constructed by Eifer in 2018.
Opened by Ms Tara Cheyne MLA on 25th November 2018 in the presence of the the Hon Ken Wyatt , Australian Government Minister responsible for organ and tissue donation, and numerous representatives of the Canberra transplant community.
The Gift of Life garden was made possible through a funding from the ACT Government and the Australian Government’s Organ and Tissue Authority, reflecting its importance as a national project. The remaining funding was generously contributed by private donors.
- Gift of Life Incorporated
- John James Foundation
- Prof Paul and Claire Smith
- Dr Robert ad Marilyn Allen and family
- Anne and the late Patrick Harris
- Bill and Jenny Handke.
- The line of the path to the rear of the garden references Rosalie Gascoyne’s work “Suddenly the Lake” that depicts a Canberra landscape as a landscape in motion.
- A gathering space specifically designed for inward reflection whilst affording outward looking views.
- An underground pulsing light referencing a constant heartbeat and transfer of energy
- Portals within the hedge to enable outward looking views, and to celebrate the ideas of generosity and healing.
- Placement of granite rock throughout the garden (representing “permanence”) are a reference to Robert Murase’s work “The Talking Stones”.
- Rock engravings of two Haiku poems:
White bark birches grow
transcending time together
in silent travel
Stars align tonight
despair and hope intertwine
a part forever - A corten steel sculpture ‘Confluence’ by Bungendore artist Keith Bender. With intersecting circles representing life forming a sphere and ECG shapes crossing over depicting heartbeats, it symbolises donors and recipients coming together to enable organ donation and transplantation to proceed.
- A pond including granite rocks, a pulsing subterranean light source and a gentle waterfall has been included to create a contemplative and relaxing sound element within the garden.
- A grid of white-barked Himalayan Birch trees will eventually create a ceiling to the garden
Species have been chosen for their suitability to the Canberra soil and climate, their foliage texture, flower colour and soft, evocative scents. Plants will change with the seasons to create a muted and textured palette.
Trees and shrubs | Betula utilis var. jacquemontii Correa alba Westringia 'Mundi' Rhagodia spinescens ssp deltophylla Rosmarinus officinalis |
Accent plants and ground covers | Arthropodium cirratum Chrysocephalum hybrid ‘Silver and Gold’ Calamagrostis 'Karl Foerster' Dianella caerulea 'Cassa Blue' Perovskia atriplicifolia Pennisetum alopecuriodes PA400 Purple Lea ® Sedum 'Matrona' Nerine Rosea / Nerine Alba Calostemma purpureum Allium sphaerocephalum Echinops 'Taplow Blue' |