There have been countless changes to Adelaide Botanic Garden since it opened to the public on 4 October 1857. In that time we’ve seen ten directors, the construction and demolition of many buildings, and constant additions to its living collections.
While Mount Lofty Botanic Garden is the younger sibling of Adelaide (opened 1857) and Wittunga (1975) Botanic Gardens, its history is no less rich and varied!
Wittunga was established as a private home by English-born estate agent and naturalist Edwin Ashby (1861-1941) in 1902, and was based on a formal English design. The property originally had extensive apple and pear orchards along with cattle, sheep and pigs.
