Cnr. Scott and Inglis Streets, Buninyong. The Gardens cover the blocks bounded by Scott, Inglis, Fisken and Yuille Streets. The Upper and Lower Gardens are separated by an embankment running along Cornish Street.
150th Anniversary of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens
2011 was the 150th Anniversary of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens and a number of commemorative events were held throughout the year, culminating in the opening of the handsome stone wall entrance at the Corner of Scott and Cornish Streets on Saturday 13 November 2011.
Autumn is gorgeous in our Gardens, and they were featured on the ABC TV weather report in 2011 (right). The beautiful old trees also make a shady retreat over summer and there is a very pleasant walk around the Gong whatever the season.
Wedding Bookings
The Buninyong Botanic Gardens can be booked for weddings through the City of Ballarat. Download the Terms & Conditions and Booking Application for Weddings in the Buninyong Botanic Gardens (pdf) from the City of Ballarat website: Booking Application for Weddings
The Island, much loved by children and ducksAutumn's golden carpet beside the old swimming baths
The Tempest in the Buninyong Botanic Gardens
Eight wonderful performances of Shakespeare's much-loved comedy brought magic to the Buninyong Botanic Gardens in February 2017. Directed by Susan Pilbeam, the play was a delight from start to end, as it moved through the Gardens, from the Rotunda to the lily pond to the walled garden. Experienced actors played the lead roles, including several performing arts graduates from Federation University, sweetly supported by a flock of musical sprites and young sailors from Buninyong Primary School.
The Buninyong Botanic Gardens are among the oldest in the State. In 1859 the first Buninyong Municipal Council reserved an area of 10 acres for the Botanical Gardens. The original plan of 1861 showed walks and bridges, fencing and gates and a proposal for bathing facilities. In 1872 Conrad Fegbeitel, a German immigrant, was appointed Curator for the Gardens and Superintendent of the Baths. The famous Ferdinand Von Mueller from the Melbourne Botanical Gardens, the curators of Ballarat and Geelong Gardens, the State Nursery at Creswick and local nurserymen all donated specimens of trees and plants. Following a devastating fire in 1876, the capacity of the Gong reservoir was greatly increased in order to ensure an adequate water supply in the event of another fire.
The Main Gardens consist of an Upper and Lower Section. The Upper Gardens centre around "The Gong", a small lake which is encompassed by a walking path. The ground to the North and East rises steeply to the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and Pauls. On these slopes there is a scattering of introduced European trees. This area has been recently developed with specimen trees of the Maple family (Acer species).
Opening of the Queen Victoria Rotunda on 13 November 1901The Rotunda today
Photo of the opening of the Queen Victoria Rotunda courtesy of the Buninyong & District Historical Society
The picturesque Lower Section of the Botanic Gardens contains an historic Victorian Rotunda, an old walled Swimming Pool (since converted to a garden area), an ornamental pool with an island, and a variety of exotic labelled specimen trees and shrubs. There are also toilets, a barbecue area and play equipment.
Looking across the Gong in the upper gardens
In 1990 the Old Sandstone Courthouse and its immediate surroundings were added to the Gardens Reserves. An area in the southwest has been excised to the Buninyong Bowling Club.
The gardens became a popular wayside stop for travellers and picnickers who came by train from Ballarat for a day's outing to admire the 'hilly picturesque countryside' and the ornamental trees and flowering shrubs. The railway era was the heyday of the Buninyong Botanical Gardens. The service ended in 1937 and the track was dismantled in 1947.
2008 tree planting in the Buninyong Botanic Gardens A new Araucaria columnaris, or Cook Pine, was planted in the Botanic Gardens on 28 August 2008. The young tree, which is a native of New Caledonia, replaced an older one in the Gardens that died some time ago. Check out its progress amongst the other splendid mature trees next time you're in the Gardens.
Timeline
1850s
Present Gardens and Gong shown as a swampy area with a number of springs and tea tree.
1850s
Cornish Street dam constructed. The original was small and centred of the northwest corner of the block, associated with the Brewery.
1861
Land reserved for Buninyong Public Gardens
1864
Borough Council spends one hundred pounds on fencing and improvements to Botanic Gardens.
1866
Dr Von Mueller, Director of Botanic Gardens, Melbourne supplies Buninyong with Garden plants, trees and seeds.
1870s
Cornish Street dam enlarged to present Gong. Bluestone basin constructed to augment the reservoir (later adapted for Swimming Baths). Gardener's cottage built (foundations remain on the site, now called Dawn's Garden)
1872
Bowling Club established on the southwest corner of the Gardens. At that time, there was one green and the existing historic pavilion was added later.
1890
A tennis court was added, known as The Gentry's Courts.
1891
Yuille Street, between Cornish and Inglis Streets, closed and added to the Gardens Reserve. Yuille Street trees planted.
1901
Queen Victoria Rotunda built to commemorate the reign of the late Queen, with seventy pounds raised by the ladies of Buninyong. Opened by Mayor Arthur Coxall.
1900s
Kiosk and Shelter shed constructed to the northwest of the rotunda. The kiosk supplied light refreshments and hot water (remains of old copper) for Ballarat visitors who had travelled out on the "Bunny". The Gardens caretaker's family operated the kiosk and baths.
1904
Fernery built on northeast corner of the present Bowling Greens
1915
Borough and Shire amalgamate. "Ancient Villagers" believe this began the decline of the Gardens.
1919
Reinforced concrete wall and changing sheds erected around the old swimming baths - a Returned Soldiers project.
1930s
Baths closed due to high E Coli count - however baths continued to be used according to Dutch migrants who arrived in the 1950s.
1950s
Gardener's cottage demolished and the timber used for Vince Scott's garage (still standing on the southwest corner of Scott and Inglis Streets). Fernery also dismantled and Bowling Green expanded onto the vacated area.
1962
Bowling Club land excised from the Gardens
Information on the history of the Gardens supplied by Beth Ritchie and Derick Leather, Buninyong & District Historical Society
Other websites with information about Buninyong's Botanic Gardens:
2011 was the 150th Anniversary of the Buninyong Botanic Gardens and a number of commemorative events were held throughout the year, culminating in the opening of the handsome stone wall entrance at the Corner of Scott and Cornish Streets on Saturday 13 November 2011. 
The gardens became a popular wayside stop for travellers and picnickers who came by train from Ballarat for a day's outing to admire the 'hilly picturesque countryside' and the ornamental trees and flowering shrubs. The railway era was the heyday of the Buninyong Botanical Gardens. The service ended in 1937 and the track was dismantled in 1947.