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MASTER PLAN AND PRECINCT DESCRIPTIONSMOUNT LOFTY BOTANIC GARDEN

MASTER PLANSAND

PRECINCT DESCRIPTIONSAND PROJECTS

STRATEGIC RESPONSES

AND ACTIONS

KEY ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES

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The master planning of the Mount Lofty BotanicGarden is guided by the following set of siteplanning principles derived from the existinglandform and vegetation patterns, and the BGABoard’s vision for the Garden’s future.

9.1 Overall Principles and Masterplan

The Master Plan for Mount Lofty Botanic Garden builds onthe inherent characteristics of the site topography and itsnatural and human-made plantings. Like Adelaide BotanicGarden, the Mount Lofty Botanic Garden Master Plan issignificantly influenced by the BGA strategic directions,in particular the intent to establish the organisation as amajor scientific andcultural institution in the State.

Within the three driving forces behind the Plan, thefollowing issues are of particular importance:

ACCESS

The design and provision of an easily comprehendiblepath network is critical to the enhancement of the visitorexperience in the Garden. Along with the consolidationand intensification of thematic plantings and interpretativemedia, the improved path system will assist in making thecollections and key messages more accessible.

REGENERATION

While all aspects of the garden are considered in thelight of their regenerative qualities, the remnant forestin particular requires management intervention for it tocontribute significantly to the fulfilment of Gardenobjectives and enhanced visitor experience.

SUSTAINABILITY

As with Adelaide Botanic Garden, the enhancementof sustainability through horticultural practices, water use,increased biodiversity and plant conservation, along withimproved communication of these key messages to thewider community is a prime consideration of theMaster Plan.

TWO NODES

Develop visitor facilities at and near the upperand lower car parks.

GARDEN STRUCTURE

Enhance and accentuate the basic structure ofalternating forest ridges and garden gullies.

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GULLY WALKS

Enhance existing gully walks and create animmersive garden experience for each.

CONTOUR WALKS

Develop a network of readable looped contourpaths which provide visitors with a choice ofdistance and experience.

THEMATIC GARDENS

Develop a strong overall theme for the non-indigenous collections and intensify the visual,horticultural and interpretive quality of allgarden displays.

FOREST REGENERATION

Manage the remnant forest to maximiseregeneration and biodiversity.

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9.2 Mount LoftyBotanic GardenPrecinct Descriptions

In analysing the Garden, precincts of common activities,plantings or history have been identified. For all precincts,various design options were considered during the MasterPlanning study, and the most appropriate outcomerecommended.

Within each precinct, projects have been proposed whichaddress the issues, objectives and strategic responses.The projects represent clusters of actions proposed in theprevious section of this study. Each project is assigned apriority that reflects the urgency and magnitude of theissues addressed and the project’s relationship withoverall BGA objectives and goals. Priority timeframesare nominated according to the following scale:

(H) High Priority i.e. 1-5 years

(M) Medium Term Priority i.e. 5-10 years

(L) Longer Term Priority i.e. 10+ years

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.1 LOWER GARDEN

The lower garden along with the adjacent lakesideprecinct is the most accessible sector of the Garden.This area is also overlooked by the visitor facility whichis the primary location for gaining information about theGarden’s attractions. The building is sited to takeadvantage of views to the Piccadilly Valley and theadjacent lake.

A concentrated series of ephemeral wetlands lead fromthe dam overflow to the low point near the adjoiningproperty to the east. By providing improved drainage, thelower arboretum is more accessible throughout the yearand is therefore utilised for picnics and organised events.

The proximity of the car park and visitor facility makesthe lower garden an important part of most visitors’experience. The opportunity is therefore taken to utilisethe prominent slopes of the dam wall, and below thelookout and the drop-off area, to highlight plant specieswhich support the BGA objectives. These are developedin a manner which provides a striking visual display.

Projects:• Ephemeral wetlands and associated

drainage (M)• Display garden on slopes (M)

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Lower Garden

Well drained picnic

and event space

Display garden on slopes

Visitor Centre

Ephemeral wetland

North

Screen east boundary

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.2 ARBORETUM

The Arboretum provides an open canopy throughout thearea with mown grass beneath. In flatter areas, thisprovides an ideal location for picnicking, strolling, smallsocial gatherings and recreational activities. The areabelow the car park lookout is utilised for major events.

Arboretum planting is increased in density around theNursery, Upper Depot and Administration Complex tomaximise screening of these facilities. Similarly, the eastboundary and service road are screened from view.

The staff carpark is upgraded to cater for large publicevents and the access road is widened to allow two-waymovement.

The Lothian Lookout in the upper arboretum is renovatedand open to the public at all times.

Projects:• Lothian Lookout renovated (M)• Progressively upgrade existing depot

buildings and design new buildings toachieve a high level of fire safety (M)

• Staff carpark upgraded and accessroad widened (M)

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Arboretum

North

Nursery screened

from view

Staff carpark upgraded

Lothian lookout

renovated

Depot screened

from view

Depot buildings upgraded

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.3 O’LEARY LAND

The O’Leary land to the east is recognised as a futuredevelopment site with high potential to display focuscollections such as flowering trees and floweringperennials in mass displays, and Australian and NewZealand cool temperate plants.

Projects:• Carry out review of opportunities to

expand focus collections on O’Leary land (M)

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O’Leary Land

North

Future focus collection display

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.4 LAKESIDE PRECINCT

The Central Lake is the focal point of the Gardens, beingat the confluence of the majority of the gullies. The VisitorFacility is sited adjacent the north-east corner of the laketo take advantage of lake and valley views and accessacross the dam wall to the west gully gardens.

This building houses interpretive material and importantinformation regarding bushfire awareness and procedures.

A fully accessible path system circumnavigates the lakepredominately utilising existing roads, providing excellentviews both up into the gully display gardens and down andacross the lake. Lookout points are located on the eastand west ends of the dam wall.

The lake edge is accessible in the north east corner nearthe Visitor Facility and lower carpark, and at the south end.

The sloping banks between the encircling path and thelake edge are ideal settings for a small number ofsculptures visible both at close range and from acrossthe lake.

Planting around the lake edge maximises vignettes tothe water and beyond from a variety of locations alongthe encircling path.

Projects:• Visitor facility (H)• All access path (H)• South lake edge access (M)

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Lakeside Precinct

North

South lake edge access

All access path

Visitor facility

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.5 NATIVE FOREST

The Stringybark forest, which is situated predominantly onthe ridgelines of the Garden, performs an importantfunction. Firstly it provides a visual frame for the displaygardens in the adjacent gullies. Secondly, it provides aninvaluable resource for the interpretation of the indigenousflora of the region.

Through careful management, the biodiversity of the forestis enhanced and the health of those trees on side slopesabove exotic plantings is improved. Fire risk is managedthrough a program of prescribed burns, targettedmaintenance and the establishment of boundary firebreaks in strategic locations.

Contour walking trails traverse the forest fingers bringingvisitors into close proximity with the vegetation.

Investigate improved integration and connectivity betweenSomerset Rocks and the rest of the Garden. If this is notpossible then consider divestment of this land.

Projects:• Improved signage and wayfinding system (H)• Contour path system (H)• Explore options for improved connectivity

to Somerset Rocks (L)

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Native Forest

North

Improved connectivity

or possible divestment

Contour paths

Boundary fire breaks

Improved management below exotic plantings

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.6 EAST-WEST GULLIES

The three east-west gullies fan out from the Duck Pond.The central gully hosts Rhododendron specimens whichform a focus collection within the Gardens. This extendsfrom the Upper Carpark to the main lakeside path. Thisvalley is, therefore, a key connector between the upperand lower sectors of the garden.

Its steep main path crosses the network of contour trailsproviding visitors with an opportunity to move up or downthe slope. Midway up the valley a swing bridge crossesbetween the adjoining ridges. This is one of the two suchbridges which provide a striking view of the gullies andtheir display gardens.

Shelters and seating along the length of the gullies provideopportunities to rest and take in both the vegetation inclose proximity and the longer views up and downthe valley.

Projects:• Contour path system (H)• Improved signage and wayfinding system (H)• Reduction and management of native

re-growth to maximise fire resistance (H)• Swing bridges (M)

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East-West Gullies

North

Western Asia (Viburnum)

Rhododendron

Focus Collection

Syringa Gully

Contour path system

Swing bridge

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.7 NORTH-SOUTH GULLIES

A series of five gullies running north-south from the uppermain ridge down to the main lake and lower garden housecollections from South America, Temperate Africa and NewZealand as well as Magnolia and fern species. Within thefern gully the Tree Ferns are developed as a FocusCollection.

Major paths run up the Magnolia, South American and FernGullies. These cross the contour trails which traverse thegullies and ridges in an east-west direction.

Maintenance of the forested ridges highlights thedistinctive landform of the Garden and gully collectionsbelow. A swing bridge crossing the Fern Gully providesexcellent views up and down the valley and to the ferngarden below.

Projects:• Contour path system (H)• Improved signage and wayfinding system (H)• Reduction and management of native

regrowth to maximise fire resistance (H)• Swing bridge (M)

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North-South Gullies

North

New Zealand, Fern and

Temperate Africa Gullies

Contour path system

South African Gully

Swing bridge

Magnolia Gully

Mount Lofty Botanic GardenPrecincts

9.2.8 SOUTHERN SLOPE

The upper southern slopes of the Garden are easilyaccessible from the upper car park. A path takes visitorsinto the ‘Arthur Hardy’ sanctuary where excellent viewsare possible down into the southern Fleurieu Peninsula.Picnicking and recreational activities are catered for underthe collection of cool temperate Australian trees.

The quarry site is sold.

A path through the Dwarf Conifer Collection links with theupper contour path network of the north slopes, therebybringing the south slope gardens into the overall Gardenpath system.

Projects:• Overturn dedication on Arthur Hardy

Sanctuary (H)• Quarry divestment (H)• Arthur Hardy land enhancement and

development (M)

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Southern Slope

North

Linking path

Arthur Hardy land developed as recreation and collection space

Quarry site sold

Path to Arthur Hardy land