National Herbarium of New South Wales

The National Herbarium of New South Wales is a scientific research facility at Mount Annan that preserves and documents more than one million plant specimens. The collection is maintained in a dedicated building at the Australian Botanic Garden and made accessible to researchers.

It was founded in 1853 and houses historical collections gathered by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander during the HMS Endeavour expedition to Australia in the 1770s. These early materials form the foundation of an ongoing botanical documentation effort.

The place serves as a major repository for understanding the plant diversity of New South Wales and surrounding regions. Visitors can observe how the extensive collection documents species that shape the local environment.

Researchers and institutions worldwide can request loans of specimens and access a digital collection of high-resolution botanical images. The materials are organized for specialized research and academic projects.

The collection includes the Daniel Solander Library, a special collection named after the naturalist who traveled with James Cook on his first Pacific voyage. This historic library represents a rare surviving example of materials from the age of exploration.

Location: New South Wales

Part of: Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Address: Robert Brown Building, Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000

Website: https://rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/science/national-herbarium-of-new-south-wales

GPS coordinates: -33.86539,151.21753

Latest update: December 12, 2025 14:24