Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Melbourne, Australia

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne has been an icon in Melbourne’s cultural life for more than 175 years. Much loved by generations of Victorians, as well as by many visitors from interstate and overseas. It is a picturesque haven for recreation and an important resource for education, conservation, science and horticulture. Melbourne Gardens extends over 38 hectares and houses a collection of more than 8,500 species of plants from around the world. 

This expression of interest for Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne is for the Observatory Building and for eleven lawns and pavilions scattered through the Gardens.   

Throughout these spaces the future operator will be the exclusive caterer.

These spaces are all licensed areas allowing the operator to provide a wide range of catering events, supporting a range of opportunities from wedding ceremonies, corporate events, milestones to evening wedding receptions. Advance booking concepts such as high teas or set menu dining are also welcome with consideration of the amenity of the Gardens. 

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne provides a host of stunning outdoor locations across a diversity of ecosystems that will appeal to a broad range of customer segments seeking to have a unique and memorable Gardens experience that will be complemented by exemplary food and service from a future Partner.

The licence also includes an indoor space, the Melbourne Observatory building as a unique destination with a series of meeting and function rooms for a workshop or meeting, excellent for a convenient mini corporate ‘in Melbourne getaway’ that can transition instantly into botanical garden experiences. The six distinct spaces provide a range of room capacities that are well suited to the corporate market.

Some of the eleven outdoor lawns around the Gardens can support infrastructure for events using canopies and in two locations, the use of temporary marquees (over a 45+ day season) that can be installed by the future operator. 

These marquees provide an elevated gathering and dining space offering the best of both worlds - amazing botanical gardens vistas with a modern hospitality designed retreat for the best Melbourne celebrations.

This expression of interest seeks to find a Partner who can continue and further the enviable reputation the Gardens has become synonymous with for weddings ceremonies, events and celebrations over the past two decades.

Creative and forward-looking hospitality operators will see the potential to create unique experiences for their customers through the entire year to maximise the potential at Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

EOI SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED NOVEMBER 2022