Araluen Botanic Park
{{Short description|Heritage listed botanic garden in Roleystone, Western Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox park
|name = Araluen Botanic Park
|photo =
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|type = Botanical
|location = Roleystone, Western Australia
|coords = {{coord|32|07|S|116|06|E|display=title,inline}}
|area = {{convert|59|ha|abbr=on}}
|plants =
|species =
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|opened = 1930
|owner = Araluen Botanic Park Foundation
|operator =
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|website = {{official URL}}
{{Infobox designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = State Register of Heritage Places
| designation1_offname =
| designation1_type =
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_date = 12 December 1997
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| designation1_number = {{SRHP|3277}}
}}
}}
Araluen Botanic Park is located in a sheltered valley in the Darling Ranges, approximately {{convert|30|km|mi|0}} south of Perth, Western Australia, in the suburb of Roleystone. The Botanical Park covers an area of about {{convert|59|ha}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/chabg/bg-dir/araluan-wa.html|title=Araluen Botanic Park|work=Directory of Australian Botanic Gardens|publisher=Australian National Botanic Gardens|accessdate=7 February 2011| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110103222836/http://www.anbg.gov.au/chabg/bg-dir/araluan-wa.html| archivedate= 3 January 2011 | url-status=live}} There is a small entry fee to the park, and it is open every day of the year. There is a mixture of exotic plant varieties, however the park also contains many remnants of native bush.
History
Jack Simons bought the property in 1929 on behalf of the Young Australia League (YAL) to use as a holiday camp. The YAL put the Araluen Botanic Gardens up for sale in 1985 (but retained Camp Simons). A private investor was going to redevelop the land, however the local communities rallied the state government to purchase the park. Encouraged by strong community support, the state government purchased the park in 1990.[http://www.roleybushcare.com/bush-reserves/49-araluen-botanic-park.html Roleybushcare website]{{full citation needed |date=January 2025}} The Araluen Botanic Park Foundation became incorporated in July 1990 with the aim of working with the Western Australian Planning Commission to restore the park. Since 1995, the foundation has managed the park under lease from the commission.{{cite web|url=http://www.araluenbotanicpark.com.au |title=About Araluen - The Story of Araluen|work=Araluen Botanic Park website|accessdate=7 February 2011}}
Facilities
Facilities include a gift shop, cafe with tearooms and function centre, parking, toilets, a miniature train and walkways. The old swimming pool is now a lake and the diving board has been removed.
Events
Araluen hosts annual events, including the Tulip Festival in spring and the Fremantle Chilli Festival in summer at Fremantle Esplanade and the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour. From 1997 till 2007 an annual folk music festival was also held each spring in Araluen.[http://www.araluenfolkfestival.org.au/ Araluen Folk Festival website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222214211/http://www.araluenfolkfestival.org.au/ |date=22 December 2007 }}{{full citation needed |date=January 2025}} Children's activity days are held during school holidays. Araluen recently sponsored the ANZMAC Mid-year Doctoral Colloquium Event.[http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,22874515-5005364,00.html Children's Activity Days website]{{full citation needed |date=January 2025}}
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|Image:Araluen IMG 0251.JPG
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References
{{reflist |30em}}
External links
- {{official website}}
{{subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Western Australia }}
Category:Botanical gardens in Western Australia
Category:1930 establishments in Australia
Category:State Register of Heritage Places in the City of Armadale