From humble beginnings, London-born Weston rose through the massive British gardening industry in the second half of the nineteenth century, becoming foreman of the 79 gardeners at the magnificent Drumlanrig Castle in the Scottish borderlands. 

Reaching Sydney in 1896, he became Head Gardener at Admiralty House, Kirribilli, and in the wake of Federation in 1901, set his sights on the greatest challenge of all – the new national capital across the ranges on the open Limestone Plains. It was here that, despite the daunting obstacles of government bureaucracy and the Great War, he gave life to his ‘dream city’.

Reviews

Helen Musa, CityNews Canberra

• Graced with a clever title, The Man Who Planted Canberra is a new book about the life of Charles Weston MBE (1866-1935) and likely to be snaffled by horticulturists and proud Canberrans alike. Read More: The man of Canberra trees, three million of them | Canberra CityNews

Gabrielle Stannus, Hort Journal

• The Man Who Planted Canberra is meticulously researched, the groundwork for which is underpinned by a thesis written by the late Dr John Gray, hence his co-credit with Macklin . . . the text is interspersed with beautiful artwork, botanical sketches, historic photos, and superb plans. A veritable feast for the eyes, as well as the brain. Read more: Book Review: The Man Who Planted Canberra by Robert Macklin – Horticultural Media Association

Alice Matthews, ABC Canberra radio

• Robert [has] done an incredible job pulling together the history of this man, and indeed, comparing his legacy to what we see today. Listen here: The man who planted Canberra - ABC listen

Graeme Day, 2ST radio: Mornings with Graeme

• The book is wonderful, apart from the wonderful story that you've captured. Just the photos and the graphics are just amazing. And I tell you what, the publishers have done a wonderful job, haven't they?

Sandra and Graham Ross, The Garden Clinic. 2GB Radio

• A great book, a great read. Every gardener should read that book.

Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

• The man, the dog, the russet autumn leaves and the broad pathway entice the browser to take a closer look, and inside they find maps, gorgeous photos, botanical illustrations, plans and the intriguing story of a man most of us have never heard of: Charles Weston MBE, who made the barren plains of our fledgling capital into a garden city. More: The Man Who Planted Canberra, Charles Weston and His Three Million Trees (2025), by Robert Macklin | ANZ LitLovers LitBlog

Jason Steger, The Booklist

• A valuable record of a singular, national occasion.

Michael Kitson, Books+Publishing

• For readers interested in Canberra’s history or public green spaces, this is an illuminating account and prompts reflection on how visionary thinking can shape cities and the environments we inhabit for generations. Read more: The Man Who Planted Canberra (Robert Macklin, NLA) | Books+Publishing

About the author

Portrait of Robert Macklin 

Robert is one of Canberra’s most wide-ranging and accomplished authors with no fewer than five awards to his name—the $30,000 Blake Dawson prize for best Business Literature 2009 and four annual Canberra Critics Circle book awards.

His work includes four novels, one adapted to the MGM film, Storyville, starring James Spader and Jason Robards; and The Queenslander currently optioned for a three-part TV series. His non-fiction books include biographies of Hamilton Hume, Kevin Rudd and Jacka VC, as well as the bestsellers Sniper Elite (2006) and Castaway (2021). The Man Who Planted Canberra is his 31st published work. 5 of his books have been published in China, others in the UK, USA and New Zealand.

He lives in Weston with his wife, a former teacher of many hundreds of young Canberrans, Wendy Macklin.