Wilson Botanic Park
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Location
668 Princes Highway
Berwick, Vic 3806 
Map
Melway Ref 111 B7
Contact
Phone 03 9707 5818 or email wbp@casey.vic.gov.au
Wilson Botanic Park flyer
Opening Hours
Wilson Botanic Park is open every day except Christmas day and Good Friday.
7am – 5pm or 7am – 8pm (during daylight savings)
Visitor Centre:
10 am - 4 pm weekdays
11.30 am - 4 pm weekends
Opening hours may vary due to special events.
Admission
Entrance to Wilson Botanic Park is free, except when special events are held at the park.
About the Park
Only minutes from the Monash Freeway, the park attracts local and international visitors and is sanctuary to an abundance of native animals.
Perched on the edge of the Basalt Lake, the Birdhide provides the perfect cover for bird watching. The Directional Marker on the cliff above identifies panoramic highlights of Berwick and beyond.
The picnic areas of Wilson Botanic Park are the perfect place for a BBQ with friends and the playground is popular with kids. Many enjoy the wonderful walking tracks around the picturesque lakes.
When you wander through the grounds of Wilson Botanic Park, it is difficult to imagine the site was an operational quarry until the late 1970s.
The quarry was founded by William Wilson in 1859. Mr Wilson recognised a business opportunity and began excavating the site which would soon become renowned for producing some of the highest quality basalt in the Melbourne region.
The transformation of the quarry site began in the late 1980s when work commenced by the then City of Berwick.
In 1992, the Honourable Bill Hayden A.C., Governor General, officially opened Wilson Botanic Park, in memory of early pioneers.
Fossils
A fossil seam is not something commonly found in a botanic garden or park, but Wilson Botanic Park is lucky enough to have two!
During the operational days of the quarry many fossils were found, some more than 22 million years old. They include fossilised wood, leaves and pollens of flowering plants and conifers.
The fossil sites, which have been studied by universities across Australia, boast both tropical and temperate species. It is rare to find these varieties in one place. Such evidence reveals that the site was tropical rainforest many years ago.
The beauty of Wilson Botanic Park begins even before you get to the car park. The oak lined driveway is a prelude to the 39 hectares of natural botanic wonder that lies beyond.
Education
Each term break at the park, the Junior Bunyip school holiday program invites primary school children to explore wildlife and nature.
School groups can learn outdoors in a living classroom – contact the Program Support Officer on 03 9707 5818 for more details.
External Links
'Sustainable Gardening Australia' - SGA welcomes Wilson Botanic Park for more information and images of Wilson Botanic Park.
Regulations for visitors to Wilson Botanic Park
Scenery and Map of Wilson Botanic Park
Wedding Ceremonies & Wedding Photography at Wilson Botanic Park