Darwin botanic gardens beloved treehouse reopens after $200k upgrades

A beloved treehouse at Darwin’s botanic gardens has officially reopened, after some fears it may remain closed permanently.

Ellie Lea and Archie Lea celebrate the reopening of the treehouse at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Children's Playground, with Fannie Bay MLA Laurie Zio. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

A beloved treehouse at Darwin’s botanic gardens has officially reopened, after some fears it might have remained closed permanently.

The treehouse at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Children’s Playground was closed in 2023 for safety reasons, and has now been restored and reopened following upgrades to ensure the structure meets modern safety and compliance standards.

Jason Hanna, owner of Eva’s Cafe located in the gardens, said visitors were looking forward to the return of the much-loved feature.

“I can speak for all the kids and families that come to visit us at Eva’s, everyone is excited by the opening of the iconic Botanic Gardens treehouse,” he said.

More than $200,000 in capital works were identified to deliver the project.

Construction was completed by local contractor Wurrba Pty Ltd and upgrades included soft-fall replacement, structural reinforcements and independent certification.

Ellie Lea and Archie Lea celebrate the reopening of the treehouse at the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens Children's Playground, with Fannie Bay MLA Laurie Zio. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said students from Larrakeyah Primary School played a key role advocating for the playground to be reopened.

“We heard loud and clear from families, schoolchildren, and the community that the treehouse matters and how important it is to so many people – we listened, and we have delivered,” Ms Boothby said.

“With the treehouse back in action, families can once again enjoy a truly unique part of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens experience – which is a fantastic spot for locals and visitors to enjoy on the weekend and a great place for locals and visitors to bring their kids.”

The botanic gardens is a popular spot for locals and visitors, with 448,500 passing through the park during the 2024-25 financial year.

The playground, with its multi-level play structure nestled among the trees, has long been a crowd favourite.

Originally published as Darwin botanic gardens beloved treehouse reopens after $200k upgrades