Botanic Gardens coup for Jason Hanna: Awarded commercial operation and management of Events Centre
Darwin publican and restaurateur Jason Hanna has been awarded the commercial operation and management of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Visitor Events Centre.
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DARWIN publican and restaurateur Jason Hanna has been awarded the commercial operation and management of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Visitor Events Centre.
Mr Hanna says he has his eyes set firmly on making the Gardens Darwin’s premier location for functions and events.
His company Gardens Catering will manage and operate the Visitor Events Centre, retail area and the outdoor spaces.
The airconditioned event space can seat up to 120 people and is suitable for workshops and conferences. The external deck area can cater for up to 80 people in a banquet-style set up, and it has a mini amphitheatre that seats 300.
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“It is certainly something we are really excited about … the Botanic Gardens are just an unbelievable location,” Mr Hanna said.
“You cannot go wrong in working in a space like that.
“Having the ability to be able to expand on what we have been doing in the Gardens is something I am looking forward to.
“There is only so much we can do with Eva’s Cafe and I am itching to get my claws into things and bring the Botanic Gardens front and centre for events.”
Designed by Territory architect Hully Liveris, the Visitor and Event Centre was the first project completed through the NT Government’s $103m Turbocharging Tourism initiative. It is located in the heart of The Gardens at the bottom of Frangipani Hill on Royal Palm Ave.
“The Events Centre is a great corporate space for things like small conferences and day events and meetings,” Mr Hanna said.
“It is somewhere you can go and have a conference and during your breaks you can stroll through the gardens or enjoy a coffee at the cafe.
“Most events are held during the dry season, but the addition of the airconditioned Visitor and Event Centre means events can now take place year-round.
“We really want to bring to people’s attention to the magnificent gardens and why would you look beyond having your event in the Botanic Gardens.
“It is such a beautiful spot.”
Anyone wanting to have a function in the Gardens will book through Mr Hanna’s business Gardens Catering.
“We will have a selection of caterers and hire companies we work with as well as ourselves,” he said.
“The delegate events during the day I would say it would be morning tea, lunch afternoon tea, audio visual and room hire and anything else they need, which will be done in house.
“For weddings and night events we will work with a number of local caterers and event hire companies and designers depending on what type of function they want. That will be inside and outside.”
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Apart from around 50-60 each year in the Botanic Gardens other events that have taken place include Darwin Festival events, the Italian Festival and Why Not.
The Environment, Parks and Water Security department’s senior director commercial and community partnerships, Dr Aggie Wegner said she looks forward to seeing the number of events continue to grow in 2021 in the Botanic Gardens.
“The Gardens is already a popular venue, and offers a variety of outdoor and indoor spaces for functions and events, catering for everyone, from small, intimate groups to events attracting up to 18,000 people,” she said.
“We are thrilled to award this contract. Gardens Catering are a well-known local business with an established interest in the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens.”
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