The Source: Husband of Victoria’s Governor Linda Dessau marks final chapter of his Government House book club

Victoria’s Governor Linda Dessau might be wrapping the Royal Doulton but that hasn’t interrupted her husband’s regular meeting for select bookworms.

Victorian Governor Linda Dessau and her husband Anthony Howard are getting ready to leave Government House.

Putting the squeeze on Victoria’s movers, shakers and headline makers.

Everyone hates moving house, especially if it’s a luxe lodge nestled snugly beside Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Garden.

Victoria’s Governor Linda Dessau, and spouse Anthony Howard, will vacate Government House this week after her term in the top job expires on June 30.

However, as the departure clock ticks, the high-end household pushed pause on wrapping the Royal Doulton, swaddling the Swarovski and watching out for the Wedgwood.

Publishing priorities needed to be observed.

Mr Howard stopped packing boxes one night during the week to hold his regular book club at the palatial property. Insiders say you don’t have to be a senior male lawyer of a Leftish-liberal persuasion to be a member, but it helps.

The chaps are moderately well-read — and drink some very good red.

Last month, Ms Dessau paid tribute to Mr Howard, and other spouses, who have played support to the Governor’s role now, or back in the day.

“I can say that, it was in observing Tony’s contributions, both with me and through his own pursuits, in understanding how much harder this role would have been without his support, and in being able to enjoy the intimacy of a well-placed raising of the eyebrow, that I was enthused to look back at the other spouses,” Ms Dessau said.

“He is the first man in the role. I hope that he is the first of many, and that those who follow will enjoy continuing the legacy of contributions made by the governors’ spouses, as much as he has embraced and enjoyed the privilege of the opportunity to contribute.”

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Bloomin’ heck: Will Royal Botanic Gardens get concerts, zipline

The incoming director of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, David Harland, will leave his role as chief executive of the Eden Project — Britain’s world-famous eco-attraction consisting of massive biodomes — to start his new job in Melbourne.

The Eden Project, a global garden, including the world’s largest indoor rainforest, is built on a former clay mine, with no soil or plants, in Cornwall, England.

But the biodome boss kept a lid on questions about plans to put a bubble over Melbourne’s historic Botanic Gardens.

In incoming boss of the Royal Botanical Gardens is a fan of the Lightscape event

“The domes are a response to a specific design and environment, and they happen to work (in Cornwall),” Mr Harland said.

“Can I imagine domes coming into Melbourne? Honestly, not really.

“Can I imagine we’re going to want to take some of the spaces in the gardens and update them, yes I can. But if we think domes are the answer to everything, then I’m out.”

Mr Harland, who takes over as the director and chief executive of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RGBV) after Professor Tim Entwisle retires in August, said the beloved site must fight to stay relevant.

He added: “One of the challenges for gardens is, how do you get new audiences in?”

He applauded the winter event, Lightscape, currently playing at the Botanic Gardens.

“What we did in Cornwall is a set of adventure zip-line type experiences, and concerts,” Mr Harland said.

“When you get some of the big bands in, particularly those aimed at a younger audience, gosh, you really notice a change in the demographic. They come for whole day and they see something completely different.”

He added: “I’m not proposing we suddenly put concerts on in Melbourne, but thinking about the gardens as a platform ... for many audiences is really the name of the game.”

Is he proposing a zip line at the RGBV?

“I don’t at the moment because it’s early days,” Mr Harland replied. “But I imagine us building on the great work that’s been done already.

“It’s a little bit like nature; you’ve got to adapt, and move forward all the time.”