National Herbarium Private Access Tour + Curation Experience

Behind the Doors of the National Herbarium: A first-hand curation experience and tour with a Botanical Collections Expert 

Journey through time with herbarium specimens from Captain Cook’s 1770 voyage up to today.  

Spend an afternoon exploring inside the National Herbarium of New South Wales at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and discover one of the most significant botanical collections in the Southern Hemisphere - home to over one million preserved plant specimens. 

Explore a collection rich with treasures holding great cultural, historic and scientific importance. You will see remarkable specimens including those collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander during Captain Cook’s 1770 voyage, the famous Wollemi Pine, specimens collected by First Nations painter Albert Namatjira, and species newly described for science by our own Botanists. Each one representing a point in time and space and contributing to our ever-growing knowledge of our natural world.  

You'll gain an understanding of the day in the life of an Herbarium Curator with a hands-on activity that will contribute to the collection of the National Herbarium of New South Wales. 

Led by Dr Hannah McPherson, Collections Manager at Botanic Gardens of Sydney, this exclusive tour offers a rare glimpse into Australia’s botanical science and history. 

About your host 

Dr Hannah McPherson is a Collections Manager at Botanic Gardens of Sydney and brings over 26 years of experience in collections management, research, and curation. Hannah has a PhD and a strong background in botany, ecology, systematics and herbarium curation. She has worked in other herbaria in Australia and overseas and has broad interests in collections care and botanical history. 

No. of tickets for the winner: x4 

Ticket expiry: 2 years 

Time: Mid-week 

Duration: Half day 

Guide: Dr Hannah McPherson, Collections Manager at Botanic Gardens of Sydney 

Please note: Minor details of this experience may be adjusted due to staff availability, weather, or other circumstances. If any changes are necessary, we will contact you directly to confirm. Availability to book in this experience before the end-of-year holidays may be limited and cannot be guaranteed.