New date to celebrate 150 years of the Botanic Gardens

Published on 24 January 2020

Come along next Saturday 1 February and help celebrate 150 years of the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens!

Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said the event will be a great day in the Gardens for everyone who comes along.

“We’ll have everything from picnic foods and fun games to a movie screening on offer at this free community event,” said Mayor Strelow.

“These celebrations were originally planned for last weekend, however we made the decision to postpone due to forecast wet weather.

“An added bonus of the wonderful rain we’ve received recently is that the Botanic Gardens will be looking even more lovely and green than usual for the event.

“The day we have planned for the 1^st of February will be filled with music, entertainment, and fun activities for the whole family.

“It’s set to be a great community celebration, and a lovely opportunity to enjoy our wonderful, heritage-listed Botanic Gardens.”

The 150^th anniversary celebrations officially kick off at 3pm, Saturday 1 February, at the Botanic Gardens. Some of the activities planned include:

• Family friendly games and activities from 4pm, including quoits, hopscotch, hula hoops and even a maypole. There’ll also be some nature craft activities, egg and spoon races, sack races, and 3 legged races.
• Picnic food - such as scones, pikelets, and lamingtons - will be laid out for everyone to enjoy from 4pm (until finished). The Tea Rooms will also be open throughout the event for those who would like to pick up something extra.
• A special Chimp Talk at the Rockhampton Zoo will take place at 4pm.
• The unveiling of a plaque marking the anniversary at 4.45pm.
• At 6pm the always popular Maggie Moo will be holding an unmissable Picnic Moosical Adventure.
• At 7.15pm there’ll be a screening of Peter Rabbit so bring your picnic blankets to sit on.
• At times throughout the event we’ll hear music from CQ Pipes and Drums as well as the Capricornia Silver Band.
• Event goers can also take a carriage ride back in time with Kenny the Clydesdale, and the fantastic volunteers at Friends of the Gardens will be generously sharing their wealth of knowledge about the history of the gardens.