8. The Fernery
Ask the children why the big house has been built for the plants? The fernery allows us to grow plants that normally come from sheltered environments away from wind, heavy rain, frost, and strong sunlight. (Most of these plants would grow on the floor of tall forests or in protected gullies)
Discuss the concept of plants growing in different environments:
  full sun vs. shade
  dry vs. wet
  windy vs. sheltered
  cold (frosty) vs.warm (sheltered)

9. Curator's Campsite
Discuss with the children what this site might have looked like in 1858. There was no Lake Wendouree or Botanical Gardens, but rather a large swamp with native grasses, trees and shrubs. Imagine you are given the task of creating Lake Wendouree and the Gardens with only hand tools, horses and carts. You have to dig out the lake and use the soil to create garden beds. You have to dig out many trees.
George Longley, the first Curator, lived on this site in a tent with his family for two years (1858 to 1859). He undertook this work with the help of contractors who were paid by the drayload for digging out the lake and paid for each tree they removed.

10. The Robert Clark Centre
Show the children the display material in the interpretative gallery (corridor). Discuss the following:
  The original plans for the Gardens implemented by George Longley.
  Pictures of the early ferneries and glasshouses.
  What is a conservatory? The display panels show plans of the current and former conservatories on the site.
  The Olympic Cauldron is beside displays highlighting Lake Wendouree's role in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

11. Prime Ministers Avenue
Background
The busts of the first six Prime Ministers of Australia were presented in 1940. The donor, Richard Armstrong Crouch was born in Ballarat and was elected to Federal Parliament representing the electorate of Corio until his defeat nine years later. After service in World War 1, Crouch returned to parliament for a brief two-year period. During his terms, Crouch served under two Prime Ministers with links to Ballarat, Alfred Deakin and James Scullin.
What prompted Crouch's decision to donate the busts? His patronage and love of fine arts (which he supported in many ways) and the influence of the statesmen Barton, Deakin, Watson, Fisher and Scullin during two parliamentary terms prompted him to return to Ballarat something of what it had given him. Not only did he provide the actual busts, he also he left a legacy to perpetuate this historic avenue.
Each of Australia's Prime Ministers is depicted regardless of the length of time spent in office.
Activities
Distribute the Prime Ministers Quiz Sheets (pages 13 to 16 in Education Kit) and arrange for children to complete in pairs.

12. Bunya Bunya Pines
Background
This is a famous Australian conifer (a tree that has cones) from Queensland rainforests. The cones on this tree contain the seeds for new plants. Bunya Bunya pines were an important source of food for the aborigines living in the area in which the trees grew. There are records of feasts occurring every three years when the owners of the trees would invite others to share the roasted seeds.
Bunya Bunya seeds are delicious and when cooked taste a bit like potatoes, The Bunya Bunya Pine makes a cone as big as a basketball, Show me how big that is with your hands.