Professor Marie Bashir AC
About the RHS Membership Links Quarterly Journal Shop Advertising
A successful Floral and Horticultural Society exhibition was held in Sydney on the 21st September, 1838. It was a very successful show. This was followed by a second exhibition in February, 1839.
In early 1862 a few interested people decided to meet every month in some convenient place, as a means of instruction in horticultural pursuits.
In the words of one of the 'instigators'...
"Scarcely had our project been made known when we were enabled, through the ready acquiescence of those interested, to enlarge our motives by at once styling it 'The Horticultural Society of NSW', by drawing up Rules and Regulations for its guidance, and notwithstanding all the drawbacks and barriers placed in our way through the non-success of previous societies of a similar nature, we have this institution placed on a good and favourable basis".
So, THE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NSW got under way.
With the Governor of NSW as its patron, the Royal Horticultural Society was granted its charter in 1932. In 1954 they held their first Spring Festival at Circular Quay. The Waratah Floral Festival, which became and annual event, was also held that year and continued till 1973.
Our monthly meetings are now held at:
1st floor, St. James Hall, 169-171 Phillip Street, Sydney.
St. James Hall is immediately opposite St. James Church and adjacent tothe Supreme Court Buildings in Queen's Square. Easy access to St. James Hall is obtained from St. James and/or Martin Place railway stations.
Meetings commence at 10.30 am on the third Thursday of each month
(except December and January)
