Click here for directions.

Blog - go here for more up to date information about what's going on in the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

2009 Paint These Gardens art competition winners here

Next Working Bee - coming soon!

Plants in Bloom (in the blog).

History of St Kilda Botanical Gardens Walks
TBA

Each walk takes approximately 90 minutes.  They start from the Historical Glasshouses on Blessington Street side of the gardens. Cost is $10 per person. Bookings are essential.

Explore the Garden
A guide to our plant collections and speciality beds (coming soon).

History documents (can be downloaded)
Baron von Mueller
Brief history of the gardens (page 3)

Membership Form - join

Birdlife

Download the new St Kilda Botanical Gardens Brochure here

Winners of the Paint These Gardens Art Competition 2010

Friends of St Kilda Botanical Gardens held its second art competition - Paint These Gardens - on 9-10 October 2010. The competition celebrates the richness of the St Kilda Botanical Gardens.

First Prize Peter Roccella No 9 (sponsored by Vineyard Restaurant)

Judges' comments
This painting has a sense of observation and discipline as a strong feature , with very good tonal harmonies. We noted the strong depiction of branches of trees and masses of leaves – complex information well ordered. The perspective of the glasshouse is convincing and makes a strong frame. There is a sense of movement and a mood that unifies the picture. The statue appears to “come to life” in an ambiguous way. Tonal transactions are used in the service of the structure of the composition.

Second Prize Mary Neighbour No 6 (sponsored by Bendigo Bank)

Judges' Comments
This is a sophisticated composition with the particular character of the tree well realized. There is a strong use of positive and negative space, with little details suggesting the beginning of spring. The darkness and drama of the image is strong and original.

Children’s Prize Geneva Crowley No 38 (sponsored by St Kilda Art Supplies)

Judges' comments
The judges chose this painting because it captures the atmosphere of the gardens at a time of changing weather conditions, here and now.   Wildlife is included with ducks and tortoises above and below the water in a lively frieze.
Through this the umbrella man stands firm.   There is a very nice use of varied materials which is not formulaic- paint has been brushed on and scrubbed off, drawn marks are added to give variety and interest to the picture.

Peoples' Choice Peter Edgeley No 39 (sponsored by Hocking Stuart)

Want to see the rest? Click on here for more great images.

The Friends thank the following sponsors for their support of this event:

Vineyard Restaurant
Bendigo Bank
Hocking Stuart
City of Port Phillip
Citywide
Quill Stationery
St Kilda Art Supplies
St Kilda Village Traders
Carman's Muesli

Judges of the Paint These Gardens art competition are:
Caroline Durre, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, Monash University
Janenne Eaton, Head of Painting, VCA Art, Victoria College of the Arts
Jan Duffy, Program Director, Linden Centre for Contemporary Artists

Judging guidelines.