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Geelong Botanic Gardens - Conditions of Hire
The Geelong Botanic Gardens can be hired for Special Occasions including weddings, wedding and special occasion photography.
Bookings are essential and our terms and conditions are:
Tentative Bookings
To book your event you need to telephone 03 5272 4126 to ensure that your chosen date, time and location are available for booking. We reserve the right to refuse bookings.
A tentative booking is made, you will receive a tentative letter either by mail or email including an invoice. You will have 10 days to pay the fee, when Geelong Botanic Gardens have been advised payment has been made, a confirmation letter will be posted/emailed to you.
If payment is not paid within 10 days, the tentative booking will be cancelled.
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Confirmed Bookings
When we receive your payment a confirmation letter and receipt will be sent to you within two weeks.
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Cancellations and Changes
Written cancellations or requests to change a booking date must be received by Council at least 30 working days prior to your booking date. No refund will be available for cancellations received within 30 days of your booking date. Council reserves the right to refuse a request to change a booking date.
A request for a change to the booking location must be received by Council at least 7 days prior to the booking date. Council reserves the right to refuse a request to change a booking location.
No refund will be available in situations of inclement weather, or as a result of emergency related closures, which are beyond the control of Council. We will make reasonable attempts to contact you on the phone number provided.
We reserve the right to relocate your booking to an alternative site in the unlikely event that immediate works are required on your site, or where some other unforeseeable circumstances arise.
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Ceremony Bookings
One of the available sites must be selected for your booking, which will be allocated exclusively for two hours. Your entire function, including set up and pack up must take place within the two hours allocated.
Bookings which include a wedding/naming/commitment ceremony may also use the Gardens for photography during the two hour period, at no additional cost.
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Wedding/Special Occasion Photography Bookings
Wedding or special occasion photography bookings are permitted for one hour only.
Groups that are taking wedding photos are allowed access to the Gardens, except for sites that have been booked for other events.
A list of all bookings for a particular day is available at the entrance to the Gardens.
Learn about Photography at the Geelong Botanic Gardens.
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Guests
The table below will help you with planning your event, the best location and the number of guests to invite to your ceremony.
| Rose Garden Lawn |
50 people |
| Oak Lawn |
50 people |
| Flag Lawn |
50 people |
| The Forgotten Garden |
50 people |
| The Temperate Garden |
100 people |
| Walnut Lawn |
100 people |
| Bunya Lawn |
150 people |
You may also find the Geelong Botanic Gardens Visitor Map helpful.
Your group can not exceed the number of guests for the site you have booked.
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Confetti
We allow bubbles and fresh rose petals in all areas of the Gardens.
Anything that is man made and may interfere with the gardens growth cannot be used. These include:
- Dried flowers
- Confetti
- Rice
- Glitter.
Additional bouquets and floral arrangements are also allowed as long as nothing is attached to any structures and the floral arrangements are free standing.
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Access and Parking
Opening hours are 7:30 am to 7:00 pm during Daylight Savings and 7:30 am to 5:00 pm all other times.
Entry into the Gardens is via the front entrance only. The Garden only allows pedestrian access.
The entry of vehicles or horse-drawn carriages into the Gardens is strictly prohibited. Vehicles are also not permitted to be left outside the front entrance of the Gardens (including bridal cars) and may be fined. The service gates will not be opened to allow access for your event.
Once the bridal party has been dropped off bridal cars must move on to a parking area. Note that bridal cars if left in no standing zones can be booked. All equipment must be walked into the Botanic Gardens through the front entrance (21st Century Garden).
Parking for guests is available in the designated parking bays near the Botanic Garden in Eastern Park at Eastern Park Circuit and Herne Parade. Disabled parking is available on Eastern Park Circuit outside the Botanic Garden. Your guests should follow the signs to the overflow area.
Disabled access is via the front entrance (21st Century Garden). Should you have guests with limited mobility we suggest you book one of the lawns closest to the entrance.
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Music
Only acoustic instruments or battery-powered CD players are permitted for use within the Gardens. Reasonable volume levels must be maintained at all times, and other users of the Gardens must not be disturbed. Power is not available for events.
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Temporary Structures
The provision of a small table and 2 broad based chairs (to avoid unnecessary damage to the turf) is permitted. Up to 10 additional broad based chairs are permitted for older citizens and people with disabilities. Council is not responsible for arranging the transportation of these items.
All equipment must be walked into the Botanic Gardens through the front entrance (21st Centry Garden).
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Other Events
The Geelong Waterfront and Eastern Park are popular for major events. These events could affect access and parking on the day of your booking. Accordingly, we recommend that you check the major events calendar which is available on our website.
As the Botanic Gardens is a public place we cannot guarantee that there will be no other members of the public in the area.
However, no other party of people will have made a booking through the Botanic Gardens. There will be a sign notifying people that there will be an event taking place.
The majority of people respect that this is your special day.
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Cleaning and Litter
All litter generated by your booking is to be removed from the Gardens at the conclusion of your booking.
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Receptions
Receptions and self-catered functions are not permitted under the conditions of your booking.
Council’s by-laws prohibit the consumption of alcohol in public places. Accordingly, the consumption of alcohol within the Gardens is expressly prohibited.
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Public Access
The Botanic Gardens is a public facility. General public access must be maintained at all times and specific areas must not be cordoned off.
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Booking Fees
Booking Fees from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2012:
| 1 hour booking |
Weddings or Special occasion photography |
$ |
78 |
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| 2 hour booking |
Commitment Ceremonies |
$ |
198 |
| Naming Ceremonies |
| Special Occasions |
| Weddings (includes photography) |
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