The Bicentenary Garden

What better way to celebrate than by planting a grove of one of Australia's most unusual trees and a tree species that has become iconic in these gardens, the Queensland Bottle Tree, Brachychyton rupestris.

Brachychyton rupestris comes from semi-arid parts of Australia's north, it has a distinct swollen trunk or caudex that stores water during times of drought. Our oldest specimen dates back to the mid nineteenth century and is the last survivor of three trees that amazed the many generations who saw them or read about them in the children's book, Alexander's Outing by Pamela Allen.

We planted a grove of trees of varying ages, including some young saplings propagated from our original trees to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity to see these amazing specimens. Growing with them is a species of an ancient group of plants known as cycads. This species, Macrozamia moorei grows naturally with the Bottle Tree and is fittingly named after our longest serving garden director, Charles Moore (1848-1896).

Take some time to relax in a uniquely Australian flower garden

Surrounding these plantings and two stone benches are swathes of Australian wildflowers, including everlasting daisies, Xerochrysum bracteatum and Sturt's Desert Pea, Swaisona formosa.

If you'd like to visit our oldest Bottle Tree, walk down the hill to the sea wall. This tree is hard to miss, protected behind a small fence, its swollen and contorted trunk has been attracting visitors to the Garden for well over 100 years.