Reading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert was all it took to convince me that I needed to pay more attention to the plants around me, even moss. When I discovered the existence of the Australian PlantBank I knew I had to visit, even more so when I realised that it had partnered with Kew Gardens Millennium Seed Bank to preserve the growth cycle of seeds around the world (read the book – you’ll know why that’s so exciting).
Australian flora is incredibly diverse with over 35,000 plant species, 250,000 species of fungi and over 3,000 types of lichens. Many are unique to our continent. The Australian PlantBank is a science and research facility situated within the grounds of the beautiful Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. It also ensures the safekeeping of our Australian plant species into the future. Our great grandchildren will be able to grow the plants we’ve forgotten!
The Australian PlankBank facility is also an architectural marvel designed by BVN Donovan Hill. It is simply breathtaking featuring a polished steel facade and sandstone seated within a native Australian landscape. Be prepared to draw in a big breath of amazement as you walk inside and glance upon the interior design.
While we didn’t get to go inside the seedbank vault, we did learn that it boasts a seed collection containing many of the 25,000 plant species that occur in Australia. Some seeds can stay in storage for hundreds of years while others need to be recollected frequently. We had a chance to have a look at some under the microscope at different stages of growth.
Our visit coincided with the Jurassic Garden event during Science Week, although you can visit the PlantBank from Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Some weekend tours are available but I recommend contacting the Australian Botanic Garden Visitor Centre on 4634 7935 to confirm availability and register your interest.