The Bendigo Botanic Gardens Larni Garingilang Precinct is a transformative $7 million project aimed at enhancing the historic Bendigo Botanic Gardens. This initiative, part of the 2010 Bendigo Botanic Gardens Masterplan, addresses the growing community demand for a contemporary parkland.
Key features of Larni Garingilang include a 660 square meter timber-clad café, community rooms, and public facilities, new gardens with an indigenous focus, gathering and educational spaces, wetlands, ponds, and a stormwater harvesting system. The project emphasizes cultural enrichment, social participation, and environmental sustainability, with significant input from the Dja Dja Wurrung people to honour their connection to the land.
The Indigenous focus of Larni Garingilang is particularly noteworthy. The project includes gardens that highlight native plants used for food and medicine, promoting biodiversity and cultural heritage. The design incorporates the concept of "Upside Down Country," reflecting the environmental degradation of the Gold Rush era and addressing historical impacts on the land. The Dja Dja Wurrung community's involvement ensures that their stories and ecological knowledge are integral to the project, fostering cultural awareness and a deeper connection between people and place.
The Larni Garingilang precinct aims to provide a space for Indigenous events, educational experiences, and the celebration of Indigenous culture. The project was funded by the Victorian Government, the Australian Government, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, the City of Greater Bendigo, and contributions from the Friends of the Bendigo Botanic Gardens. Larni Garingilang opened in October 2022.