2025 Everlasting Kings Park Festival underway
Spring has sprung, the flowers are blooming and the Everlasting Kings Park Festival is well underway, with just over a week of activities left to go.
So far this special edition of the Festival, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Western Australian Botanic Garden, has seen plenty of action. Here’s a recap of some of the highlights so far:
Special 60th anniversary installations
The entrance of the Western Australian Botanic Garden has had a makeover to celebrate the Garden’s diamond anniversary. BGPA's Infrastructure team created the numbers and the frame which holds over two dozen potted ‘White Diamond’ waxflowers. Visitors have been loving this addition to the park, with the installation quickly becoming a hotspot for selfies and family photos.
‘White Diamond’ is the Plant Development team’s latest cultivar, released especially for the 60th milestone. 'White Diamond' features masses of buds in mid-autumn followed by an abundance of large white flowers in late winter/early spring. The waxy white blooms change to a dark pink colour and have an extra-long flowering period compared to the average waxflower. Released in retail on 25th August, the plant has already sold out, with the final potted blooms a hot commodity at the recent Friends of Kings Park Native Plant Sale.
Away from the boundaries of BGPA, the 60th anniversary milestone has also been celebrated with special archival exhibitions at the State Library of Western Australia and WA Museum Boola Bardip.
The exhibition at WA Museum was opened with a ‘community day’ on Saturday 23rd August, full of horticulture, education and science activities for visitors, and runs until the 24th September.
The exhibition at the State Library opened on 29th August and runs until 2nd November. This exhibition will also feature a special event – a presentation by Australian conservation biologist and author Professor Stephen Hopper AC. Following his presentation, Professor Hopper will join a panel of Kings Park science and horticultural experts for a discussion on the past and future of the Western Australian Botanic Garden. This event is free to attend but registrations are essential – if you would like to come along, you can register here.
Our final special installation for the 60th opens at the State Buildings today – Fox and Rabbit have created a beautiful floral installation celebrating the botanical diversity of the WA Botanic Garden which will be on show until Monday 29th September.
60th anniversary merchandise
Aspects of Kings Park Gallery Shop has been joining the party, celebrating the Botanic Garden’s 60th milestone with some commemorative merchandise. Botanical artist Stacy Gardoll was commissioned to create a beautiful painting of the ‘White Diamond’, which has been turned into limited edition prints and cards. Jeweller Clare Pankhurst has also crafted a limited-edition run of sterling silver ‘White Diamond’ earrings.
In late 2024, local artist Kamsani Bin-Salleh was commissioned to create a new mural on Kaarta Gar-Up Lookout for the 60th anniversary, and this too has now been featured in a range of merchandise offerings. Prints, tote bags and sunwraps are currently available in Aspects.
Festival events
With over 70 events taking place as part of the Everlasting Kings Park Festival, it’s impossible to cover them all! However there have certainly been some highlights over the week so far.
Everlasting Ideas
The second edition of Everlasting Ideas, our “TED-talk” style event featuring WA horticultural experts, was a success, following the premiere of this event format at the 2024 Festival. Professor Josh Byrne spoke alongside a range of BGPA staff and experts from allied organisations. Plus, Gardening Australia’s own Costa Georgiadis made a special guest appearance!
ABC Radio Live
ABC Radio have been frequent visitors to the park, putting on TWO very special broadcasts live from the Festival. On Saturday 13 September, they visited the Friends of Kings Park Native Plant Sale and spoke with lots of people on the ground, plus, were joined by Josh Byrne who delivered expert gardening advice.
On Tuesday 19 September, the Afternoons program broadcast from outside Aspects and interviewed a range of BGPA staff about the 60th celebrations.
Friends of Kings Park Native Plant Sale
It would be remiss not to mention the Friends’ Plant Sale which once again proved to be a popular addition to the Festival calendar. The Friends grew thousands of plants for the two-day sale, most of which were quickly snapped up on day one, showing just how much of a cult following this event has!
Still to come
The Festival continues until Monday 29th September, with two more flagship events to go, plus a range of walks, talks, art classes and wellness events. Mark your calendars for the following dates:
Saturday 20 September, 10am-2pm, Poolgarla Parkland
A day of free, fun activities for children of all ages. Free event.
Kings Park’s Community Garden Party
Monday 29 September, 10am-3pm, Aspects Lawn
(King’s Birthday Public Holiday)
Performances from renowned WA artists including Anna Schneider and Angie Colman, plus activities for children and families. Free event.
You can explore the full range of events on offer as part of the Everlasting Kings Park Festival here.
