There are currently more than 140 botanical gardens and arboreta (specialising in trees) in all states and territories of Australia. The Australian National Botanic Gardens occupy around 90 hectares on Black Mountain, Canberra. Australia Post celebrates the 50th anniversary of Australian National Botanic Gardens with two special stamps featuring the representatives of the native flora grown in the reserves. The issue was designed by Sharon Rodziewicz.
The gardens were planned in the 1930s at a location in Canberra and in September 1949 the first trees were ceremonially planted. After development of the site, facilities and the living collection, the gardens were opened to the public in 1967; and in October 1970, they were officially opened by Prime Minister John Gorton. Today, the gardens contain the world’s largest living collection of Australian native flora.
The first stamp shows Banksia marginata - the inspiration behind the logo of the Australian National Botanic Gardens. It is one of the approximately 170 species of the plant genus Banksia and is found throughout much of south-eastern Australia.
The second stamp depicts Grevillea iaspicula - one of Australia’s rarest plants. There are only about 100 plants left its natural habitat, at six sites around the Lake Burrinjuck and Wee Jasper areas in the Yass Valley of New South Wales. The stamp photograph is by R. Hill, courtesy Australian National Botanic Gardens.
See also other flora stamps.
