Vignette 116: Waite Arboretum

An arboretum is a living museum; trees, the lungs of the earth, are wonderous in their diversity. Waite Arboretum was established on land given by Peter Waite to the University, to be held in trust and in perpetuity as a park or garden for public enjoyment. The objective of the bequest was ‘to advance the cause of education and more especially to promote the teaching and study of Agriculture and Forestry and allied subjects’.

The planting of trees from around the world began in 1928. The arboretum occupies 27 hectares and contains about 2,500 specimens representing more than 800 species in 200 genera, all growing under a natural annual rainfall of 624 mm.

An app—with an interactive map and information on all 2,500 tree specimens—allows visitors to search and locate their favourite trees, and to track their GPS positions within the Arboretum.

Open to the public every day of the year from dawn to dusk, except on Fire Ban Days, it connects the community and an invaluable collection.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Providing a place. p.158