Regional cities like Bendigo, VIC are at the frontline of climate change impacts, experiencing climatic extremes ahead of our major urban centres. With predictions for hotter, drier summers, colder winters, and increased weather volatility over the next 50 years, these regions act as ‘canaries in the mineshaft’ — offering critical insight into the adaptive measures required for future landscape resilience.

The ‘Garden for the Future’ at Bendigo Botanic Gardens was conceived as a living laboratory and educational landscape purposefully designed to showcase planting strategies that respond directly to these shifting environmental conditions. Located in the residential area of White Hills and adjacent to the historic botanical gardens, the site is deeply embedded within the community, supporting outdoor learning in partnership with local schools and serving as a vital public space.

The garden set out to redefine the dry-climate garden typology, moving beyond conventional ‘strappy natives’ or cactus displays, to present an inspiring and diverse palette of over 500 species — both native and exotic — selected for tolerance to severe frost, prolonged heat above 40°C, extended dry periods, and flash flooding. Planting is organised into three groups, fostering horticultural curiosity and ecological resilience.

Now, seven years on, we can assess what parts of the garden are succeeding or declining. Has the garden achieved the ambition of an adaptable, inspiring setting? Has it demonstrated how botanical gardens can lead the way in climate adaptation, collection development, and succession planning for a future marked by environmental uncertainty?