Ballarat Botanic Gardens are situated adjacent to Lake Wendouree, just off the old Western Highway (the main highway now by-passes the city), a few kilometres west of the centre of Ballarat (located about 110 km west of Melbourne).     The fernery is quite an impressive historic structure and has recently undergone some restoration works. Unfortunately (as at last visit in January 2002) the collection of ferns is a little monotonous, dominated by Woodwardia radicans which has spread prolifically by means of bulbils, and Blechnum nudum, some older specimens with trunks to 60 or so cm high. However if you wish to see mature Dicksonia squarrosa in abundance, then you won’t be disappointed. Fern species growing in the fernery include: Allantodia (Diplazium) australis Asplenium australasicum Blechnum nudum Cyathea australis Dennstaedtia davallioides Dicksonia antarctica *Dicksonia squarrosa Microsorum pustulatum (diversifolium) Nephrolepis cordifolia Pteris umbrosa Todea barbara *Woodwardia radicans

BALLARAT FERNERY