John
Gorton Plaque
Australian Prime Minister John Gorton formally opened the Canberra Botanic
Gardens, later the Australian National Botanic Gardens, on 20 October 1970.
The ceremony took place in what is now the middle level of the northern public
car-park (Section 169).
The
plaque was unveiled on a temporary plinth built for the ceremony, and later
moved to the curved wall by the stairs in Section 66. In 1999 it was moved to
its present site near the waterfall on 'Banks Walk' in Section 210.
John Gorton was Prime Minister of Australia from 10 January 1968 10
March 1971.
About
John Gorton (1911-2002)
John Gorton opening the Gardens,
wife Betina in the background.
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Before opening the
Gardens John Gorton visited the Display Room, now the northern end of
the Ellis Rowan Building.
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Dr B.T.Dickson who wrote the report initiating the Gardens in 1935 (left)
and John Wrigley, the then Curator of the Gardens (right), at the opening
ceremony in 1970.
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The dais set up for
the speeches at the opening ceremony in the lower level of the old car-park.
The temporary plinth is on the right.
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A marquee was set up near the
main entrance gate for refreshments.
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Updated
December 16, 2002
, Murray Fagg (anbg-info@anbg.gov.au)