What a (garden) party!

By Sarah Schwager
THE Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce introduced business from around the area to the ambient setting of the Australian Garden last week.
The revolutionary new garden, at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne on Ballarto Road, has snapped up numerous tourism awards as it approaches its first anniversary.
The garden was an ideal setting as Cranbourne’s business representatives discussed ways of promoting the area.
The guest speaker, the garden’s divisional director Chris Russell, said while the Australian Garden had enjoyed a lot of success since its opening, more was needed to make the site a landmark recognised all over the world.
“Since opening we’ve had 50,000 people visit the garden,” Mr Russell said. “But it is still too much of a secret. We recognise our main challenge is to continue to raise awareness. This is the most significant garden development in the world.”
The Australia Garden, featuring more than 100,000 Australian plants and trees on 11 hectares, was applauded far and wide at its opening day last May.
Features include a red sand garden, dry river bed and five exhibition gardens demonstrating how people can use water-saving Australian plants in their own homes.
Mr Russell said as a small organisation, funds to promote the garden were limited so local community and business help was needed to make Cranbourne a tourism destination not just statewide but internationally.
Chamber of Commerce president Derek West also highlighted events held at Casey Fields and the Cranbourne Racecourse that helped contribute to the local economy.