australian National Bonsai Collection

摘要

In December 2003 the ACT Government announced its intention to establish an International Arboretum in an area of the recently burnt out pine forests. Some of the bonsai community in Canberra saw the potential to link the arboretum project to the establishment of a National Bonsai Collection. A formal approach was made to the Government and letters of support were sought and received from local groups and the AABC Executive. The ACT government enthusiastically agreed with the concept, and the brief for the design competition for the Canberra International Arboretum and Gardens - CIAG, which was announced in September 2004, had a requirement to include a Bonsai collection in the design. The design competition attracted 45 entries with the winners being a consortium of Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects (Sydney) and Taylor Cullity and Lethlean Landscape Architects (Melbourne), winning the $100,000 prize money and the task of preparing and overseeing the development of the site. The permanent bonsai collection was one of the garden highlights of the winner's plan.