Ballarat Botanical Gardens Fernery building to open as part of Ballarat Begonia Festival

The new Ballarat Botanical Gardens Fernery building will be opened for the first time to residents and visitors as part of the 70th Ballarat Begonia Festival being held from 11-20 March.  

The community will be able to view the structure up close and appreciate the recreation of the original gothic style fernery that existed in the mid-1880s. 

With landscaping works yet to be completed, the building will include minimal temporary plantings with a roped-off path through the centre of the structure. This will provide visitors with an accessible path through the fernery. 

The City of Ballarat is now working to complete landscape plans for stage two of the fernery precinct following the delivery of the $1.7 million stage one structure works in 2021.  

The landscape plans will include a new gateway from Wendouree Parade into the fernery precinct with a forecourt in front of the fernery entrance, internal landscaping and landscaping at the rear of the structure. The designs will also connect the fernery and the rest of the gardens, with footpaths providing access to the North and South Gardens and the Robert Clark Conservatory. 

Stage two plans will be presented to Council for its consideration in the coming months. Stage two plans may also consider the potential for an additional structure to complement the stage one structure. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said the community will be able to get an up-close look at the impressive gothic style architecture of the fernery for the first time as part of our signature gardens event. 

“We’re excited to be able to provide our residents and visitors with a look inside the fernery as part of Ballarat’s largest annual event – the Ballarat Begonia Festival,” he said. 

“The fernery is one of only two examples in this state of a grand Victorian plant house. This is the latest in a long tradition of grand horticultural buildings at this site. 

“Once landscaping is complete, the fernery will be testament to Ballarat’s standing as a unique garden destination – creating another exceptional experience for the tens of thousands of visitors and residents who visit the Ballarat Botanical Gardens each year.” 

The Ballarat Fernery is one of the oldest of its kind in Australia. It has been open since the 1880s, making it a rich part of Ballarat’s history. 

Works on the fernery project began in July 2019 with the demolition of the former fernery building. Construction on the new fernery building commenced in June 2020 and was completed in March last year. 

The new fernery is a steel framed replica of the original timber building. It was manufactured off-site and brought in once the foundation work was complete. It is clad in timber to match the original building.