National Rose Gardens

Please note the National Rose Gardens are currently closed for Stormwater works. 

Located either side of the central lawn in front of Old Parliament house, the National Rose Gardens are open for all to enjoy. 

Bloom season is between October and April and the best time to visit is in November – December.

This Commonwealth Heritage listed site has undergone many updates since the establishment of the gardens in 1933. Rex Hazelwood’s design was put forward in 1928, but it wasn’t until 1933 that the first plantings went in. The design was developed to resemble two roses when viewed from above, even though flight was still in its infancy at the time. The first shrub was planted by the Minister for the Interior, John Perkins then within a week 2,000 of the 8,000 roses were planted. 

In the early replanting’s, roses were selected from the popular Hybrid Tea roses that were released from the USA and Europe. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that Florabunda or cluster flowering roses were added and since their addition each update has been a mix of Hybrid Tea and Florabunda roses.