White Hills Botanic Gardens are located on the Midland Highway, 4 km to the north-east of Bendigo city centre. They were gazetted in 1857 and recently celebrated their 150th anniversary. The Gardens occupy 6.6 hectares (about 15 acres) alongside Bendigo Creek. They contain a mature collection of trees, some of them in the National Trust Register of Significant Trees, flower border displays, a lagoon, a large picnic shelter dating from c.1904 and a collection of native animals.

The Gardens are of considerable significance at National, State and local levels. Victoria is unique in having a statewide collection of botanic gardens - not just parks - in regional towns, dating back to the second half of the nineteenth century. These gardens grew as the towns themselves grew and developed. In the case of White Hills, the gardens were for many years Bendigo's only public garden. Bendigo was initially expected to develop around White Hills. The Gardens were only superceded by Rosalind Park, seen now by most residents as the city's foremost public gardens, when the city moved its focal point to the current business district. White Hills Botanic Gardens are still very popular for picnics, public gatherings, reunions and weddings.

Entry by foot into the Gardens is via the impressive Arch of Triumph, built in 1925 to commemorate local soldiers who fought in World War I, or from the car park off Scott Street. In recent years the City of Greater Bendigo has undertaken considerable restoration work, aided by the efforts of an active Friends group.

The Gardens are joined to Lake Weeroona and Rosalind Park by the Bendigo Creek Linear Park walking and cycling track. They are open from 7.30 am until sunset. There are toilets, playground and barbeque area. Further information on the Gardens can be found in the booklet White Hills Botanic Gardens 1857-2007 by Judy Milner, obtainable from Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens, PO Box 117, Strathdale, Victoria 3550.

Other Botanic Gardens in the goldfields region are to be found in Daylesford (Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens), Castlemaine, Kyneton, Malmsbury, Clunes (Queen's Park) and Maryborough (Phillips Gardens).

This web site has been written by Roger Cousens with the assistance of Lee Andrews and the Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens. A considerable amount of information was extracted from the report "White Hills Botanic Gardens - Heritage Significance Assessment and Strategy Project" by Lee Andrews and Associates (2007). However, all errors are mine. If you have pictures or information that we can add to the site, please contact me on rcousens@unimelb.edu.au