Insights into the history, design and future of the National Capital’s landscaping, horticulture and reforestation will be shared, including the use of both native and exotic plant species throughout our region.

This special launch event will take place in the Margaret Whitlam Pavillion at the National Arboretum, combining fascinating discussion with breathtaking views of Canberra and the Arboretum’s living collections of rare, endangered and significant trees.

The presentation will be followed by book sales and signing. 

Entry to this event is free, however places are strictly limited, and early booking is recommended.

This event is held in partnership with The Curatoreum, the National Arboretum.

About 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 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 Albert Jacka VC, as well as the bestseller Castaway.  The Man Who Planted Canberra is his 31st published work. 

About Dr John Gray OAM

In 1998, Dr John Gray OAM, forester and landscape designer, completed his doctoral thesis on Charles Weston’s truly remarkable feat of afforestation in the formative years of the national capital. For Gray, it was a labour of love, one he had postponed until his retirement from a distinguished career at Canberra’s National Capital Development Commission. His thesis was a vital element in this work.

About Max Bourke

Max Bourke AM spent much of his early working life in the public sector in agriculture, conservation and various cultural organisations. At different times he was head of the Australian Heritage Commission, the Australia Council for the Arts and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, and briefly government representative on various cultural statutory authorities. He later went back to agriculture and with a colleague established a large rural investment business that is now a major listed company. He has education in agriculture, fine art history and conservation management. He has been planting trees for 60 years.

About Lenore Coltheart

After retiring from the University of Adelaide, Dr Lenore Coltheart moved to Canberra and set out on a research trail through the places of her childhood, producing a harvest of conservation studies, articles and books. Charles Weston became a familiar companion, leading to research at Yarralumla Nursery, including his extraordinary ‘seed pantry’.  

A commission from the ACT Branch of the Australasian Garden History Society meant getting to know every card Charles Weston had filed, as he recorded the source and propagation history of every single planting in his fourteen years growing a garden city as Australia’s national capital. Her work helped ensure Charles Weston’s prominence in Canberra’s centenary year.  Lenore’s work on ‘histories of place’ was recognised with the award of an OAM in 2022.

About Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas has been looking at trees in Canberra for over thirty years. He is the President of Friends of ACT Trees and editor of the newsletter, an honorary life member of Forestry Australia and a committee member of the local branch.  He developed a pine plantation which provided over 15,000 tonnes of wood to the market.