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CRANBOURNE’S Australian Garden has received top gong after being named the best new tourist development in Victoria.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne garden won the prestigious RACV Award for New Tourism Development at the 2006 Victorian Tourism Awards.
The awards salute the tourism industry’s leading operators, businesses and individuals.
The Australian Garden opened this year on 28 May, with more than 10,000 people attending.
Since then, thousands of people have visited the world-class public garden, which features more than 100,000 Australian plants and trees in 15 different settings.
Dr Philip Moors, director and chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens said the award was a highlight of what had been an exciting year for the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.
“The Australian Garden has hit a nerve with visitors ever since it opened, and the benefits it is providing for the local community of Cranbourne are far reaching with tourists bringing business for petrol stations, cafes and local suppliers,” Mr Moors said.
Tourism Minister John Pandazopoulos congratulated the Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne for its achievement.
“The awards process is not an easy one, nor is it meant to be,” Mr Pandazopoulos said. “The awards recognise people striving for excellence – it’s not about being first past the post.”
The Gardens Shop at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne was inducted into the Hall of Fame at this year’s tourism awards.
For the third year running, the Gardens Shop won the Best Retail Outlet category.
