Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney

Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
Entrance to the Royal Botanic Garden from Art Gallery Road
Location of Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney
Type	Botanical garden
Location	The Domain, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ()
Coordinates	33°51′50″S 151°13′1″E / 33.86389°S 151.21694°E / -33.86389; 151.21694Coordinates: 33°51′50″S 151°13′1″E / 33.86389°S 151.21694°E / -33.86389; 151.21694
Area	30 hectares (74 acres)
Created	1816
Founder	Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Operated by	Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust trading as the Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands
Visitors	3,544,344 (in 2016)
Open	October: 7.00am–7:30pm November to February: 7.00am–8.00pm March: 7.00am–6.30pm April and September: 7.00am–6.00pm May and August: 7.00am–5.30pm June and July: 7.00am–5.00pm
Status	Open all year
Public transit access	Sydney Trains: St James or Martin Place; State Transit: Route #441
Website	www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a major botanical garden located in the heart of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1816, the garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia and one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world. It is open every day of the year and access is free. Its stunning position on Sydney Harbour and immediately adjacent to the Sydney central business district, the Sydney Opera House and the large public parklands of The Domain ensure it is one of the most visited attractions in Sydney.

Situated immediately southeast of the Sydney Opera House and curved around Farm Cove, the gardens occupy 30 hectares (74 acres) and are bordered by the Cahill Expressway to the south and west, Art Gallery Road to the east, and Sydney Harbour to the north.

The first farm by European settlers on the Australian continent, at Farm Cove, was established in 1788 by Governor Phillip. Although that farm failed, the land has been in constant cultivation since that time, as ways were found to make the relatively infertile soils more productive. The Botanic Gardens were founded on this site by Governor Macquarie in 1816 as part of the Governor's Domain. Australia's long history of collection and study of plants began with the appointment of the first Colonial Botanist, Charles Fraser, in 1817. The Botanic Gardens is thus the oldest scientific institution in Australia and, from the earliest days, has played a major role in the acclimatisation of plants from other regions. After a succession of colonial botanists and superintendents, including the brothers Richard and Allan Cunningham, both also early explorers, John Carne Bidwill was appointed as the first Director in 1847.