The National Herbarium of Victoria: A scientific and cultural treasure

Founded in 1853 by Baron Ferdinand von Mueller, the National Herbarium of Victoria at Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria is one of the world’s richest archives of botanical diversity. Join Alison Vaughan, Manager Collections, National Herbarium of Victoria to hear more about this scientific and cultural treasure and discover the stories of the people who have contributed to its establishment and development.

Each of its more than 1.6 million preserved specimens documents the presence of an organism at a particular place and time. Together, they provide baseline data on species diversity and distributions, allowing us to track how the plants, algae and fungi that support life on Earth respond to environmental change. But the collection is more than a scientific resource: as the work of many hands over many generations, it is a testament to human curiosity and the innate connection between people and plants.

Alison Vaughan is a collections management professional with extensive experience in the physical and digital curation of herbarium specimens. She has a long association with the National Herbarium of Victoria, having worked there in various roles since 2003, and serving as Collections Manager of the Herbarium since 2021. Alison has a strong interest in botanical history – particularly the contribution of women and First Nations peoples to botany – and is passionate about connecting people with plants through social history and storytelling.

Attend Talking History in person at the Eureka Centre (no booking required). Past lectures can be viewed on YouTube by clicking this link.

Image: Provided by Mathew Lynn, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.