Bold vision in steel and glass ready to shine at botanic garden

It was a difficult decision to demolish the old glasshouse back in 2018, but it had been declared dangerous - held together by paint by all accounts.

The new glasshouse at the Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour is nearing completion.

The stunning new glasshouse at the botanic garden in Coffs Harbour is nearing completion.

The steel and glass design reflects its surrounding landscape with ‘trunks’ that reach up and branch out to support opaque and transparent panels, filtering the light like leaves.

The modular design will also allow for future expansion and it will have three interconnected areas:

– A Foyer offering a covered space for educational display boards, an informal meeting point and workshops;

– A Shade House designed to offer secure housing for shade-loving plants such as Bromeliads and Orchids. The Shade House will offer display shelving and planted feature beds with accessible pathways and seating; and;

– A climate-controlled Tropical House. Interconnected with the Shade House and Foyer, the Tropical House will offer accessible pathways, seating, display shelving and planted feature beds. The Tropical House will showcase plants that are not normally grown within the Coffs region for conservation, research, display and education.

In March Janice Fitzpatrick and Lindy Hills watched as the early foundation work got underway. Photo by Janine Watson

It was a difficult decision to demolish the old glasshouse back in 2018 but it was way past its use-by date – held together by paint by all accounts.

A review on TripAdvisor back in July 2017 titled The Glasshouse is dangerous! noted: ‘The sign apologising for the fact that engineers have deemed the glasshouse unsafe and have closed it until further notice kinds sums up the fact that the gardens might be a little short of cash.’

It‘s been a labour of love for volunteers and staff at the local botanic garden (its official title is the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden).

Lindy Hills was the president of the Friends of the North Coast Regional Botanic Garden for many years and instrumental in lobbying governments and applying for grants for the new glasshouse, and now with construction underway she can‘t wait to see the finished product.

North Coast Regional Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour: Entry. Photo: Rob Wright

In May 2020, the Australian Government announced a new $500m Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program) to support local councils nationally to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects to help stimulate local economies and communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The North Coast Regional Botanic Garden Glasshouse Project received funds of $782,096 towards its construction from the Program.

“So the pandemic hasn‘t been bad for everything,” Lindy said.

The Japanese garden.

The federal government grant is for the “shell” of the building with the friends of the garden contributing $100,000 for the rest – plants, irrigation, paving etc.

It’s been a busy time at the gardens with the official opening of the new Botanists Walk late last month.

the project which highlights the work of 16 botanists including our very own Dr Alex Floyd.

Now in his 90s he was instrumental in establishing the gardens in the 80s.

Dr Floyd was joined by Dr Gwen Harden to cut the ribbon at the official opening recently.