Peek at past plans points way for gardens cafe
As Council opens a formal request for proposals for Wollongong Botanic Garden, a local researcher has uncovered historic plans for a visitors centre and herbarium that were drawn up in 1986 by renowned architect Glenn Murcutt
A Wollongong researcher has uncovered historic plans for a visitors centre and herbarium at Wollongong Botanic Garden that were drawn up in 1986 by a renowned architect.
Dr Bess Moylan found the plans, nearly 40 years old, which were put together by Pritzker Prize-winning Glenn Murcutt, famous in architecture circles for his environmentally conscious designs and motto ''touch the earth lightly''.
The plans, found at the NSW State Library, add to an ongoing conversation between community members and Wollongong City Council about future development of the gardens.
Plans by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Glenn Murcutt for a visitors centre and herbarium were found at NSW State Library
A 10-year masterplan for the gardens was agreed upon unanimously last month, with discussion about opening a cafe or visitors centre.
The proposal shows that in the 1980s, people involved in the gardens were really keen to educate the community and share the Illawarra’s special ecosystem and its plants, Bess says.
“For a long time, people have been keen to educate the community about the plants of the Illawarra, and this is just reviving that interest, with people wanting to know more.
"I'd like to see a visitors centre that also has opportunities for local artists to sell their work.
“There's a local group that does amazing scientific plant drawings and things like that – I’d like to see indigenous connections included, stories about the place… it would be a great place for people, visitors and locals, to come to find out more."
Inspired by the find, Neighbourhood Forum 5 member Barry Baird searched his records to find forgotten tea house plans, designed by Brisland Architects in the 1980s. “When I saw the [visitor information centre] plans, I knew that 10 or 15 years ago, I had seen plans for a cafe,” says Barry.
''I started looking through all the documentation, and lo and behold, I had a copy of these. It was quite a surprise to me.
“The plans themselves have real historic value, but beyond that, they also show that the community and council always had it in mind to have a visitor information centre or a cafe, or both.”
Barry Baird displays the Brisland plans for a tea house at Wollongong Botanic Garden
The Brisland plans were approved by council in the 1990s and place the tea house cafe beside the current playground area, at the current Murphy’s Avenue entrance. Barry says the plans could provide guidance for community and council in future.
“It’s great to see the plans of the cafe that they had, and that it was down near Murphy's Avenue, close to where the people come in. They were really good plans,” Barry says.
The current masterplan begins with an expression of interest in Cratloe Cottage as a potential cafe site, but extensive community consultation has provided mixed feedback on the predicted success of a cafe at that site, Barry says.
“There are 133 responses from the community consultation process officially, but beyond that, they had thousands of people coming in and thousands of people checking to see what it was all about. So there's great community interest,” says Barry.
“It really showed lots of people had a view about this – as to whether it would ever be successful. And if it's not, there's a great opportunity for council to engage more with the community in regards to this.”
Plans by Pritzker Prize-winning Glenn Murcutt, found at NSW State Library
With community enthusiasm and change on the way, Barry says Wollongong Botanic Garden needs one more thing to reach its potential – a champion.
“You think about the Dragons, they've got their champions. If you think about the Performing Arts Centre, you’ve got the names of people who've championed that,” Barry says.
“Eighty years ago, the man who built this, and lived here, Sid Hoskins – he was a champion for the gardens. We wouldn't have the gardens without him. And we haven't had another champion since.
''So that's what the gardens really needs – to lift it and become the fabulous jewel that needs polishing. It's a beautiful jewel and people need to appreciate it.”
The uncovered plans for the garden were raised at a Neighbourhood Forum 5 meeting on December 3.
Proposals invited to activate Wollongong Botanic Garden
Wollongong City Council is inviting “diverse and innovative activation proposals that enhance the Botanic Garden experience” through a formal Request for Proposals, open until 29 January 2026. Read more here.
