About the Australian Plants Society
Tasmania Inc.
A Brief History of the APST
The Society for Growing Australian Plants, SGAP, was founded by Mr A J Swaby in Melbourne in 1957. For several years he wrote a column “Know Your Natives” in the popular gardening magazine “Your Garden”. These articles attracted a great deal of interest. The slogan he used was “Australians for Australia”, and he realised the progress which could be made towards this end by growers helping one another through a chain of interested people across the continent.
“Regions” were set up in a number of states and Tasmania became part of the South East Region, with headquarters in Melbourne. In May 1971 the Tasmanian Region was formed, led by Kay Geeves OAM and based in Hobart. Other local groups were subsequently formed and are active throughout the state. In March 1999 the Society changed its name to the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. in line with similar name changes in mainland groups.
Who We Are
The Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. (formerly the Society for Growing Australian Plants) is part of an Australia-wide organisation made up of people interested in the propagation, cultivation and conservation of plants native to Australia – Groups are located in all regions of Tasmania.
Where We Are
APST has three Groups which are located across Tasmania, local activities & meetings are based in Devonport, Launceston and Kingston.
The Objectives of the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. are:
To promote the knowledge, appreciation and preservation of Australian plants, both in their natural settings and in cultivation, with special emphasis on species indigenous to Tasmania.
To encourage the cultivation and study of Australian plants and the establishment of gardens in all types of soil and climate for the preservation of the flora of Australia.
To publish any information that may further the aims and objectives of the Society.
To cooperate with other societies or bodies with similar or substantially similar aims and objectives.
To promote recognition of the Society as a resource group for educationalists and the government.
To encourage compliance with laws and regulations in regards to the preservation of the flora.
To support efforts to strengthen the laws and regulations of all bodies given authority by legislation of the Commonwealth and States of Australia for the conservation of Australian flora.
To purchase, lease, exchange, hire or otherwise use any real or personal property necessary or suitable for the purposes of the Society.
Patron
In June 2021 Her Excellency Barbara Baker AC, Governor of Tasmania agreed to become the Patron of the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc.
Eucryphia Journal
The quarterly journal Eucryphia has been published by the Australian Plants Society Tasmania Inc. since March 1994 to promote activities related to the dissemination and advancement of knowledge of Australian native plants, with an emphasis on such plants in Tasmania. It succeeded newsletters that had been produced since the Region was formed in 1969. Reports of Council meetings and from the Groups and their forward programs help to keep members aware of all the Society’s activities.
Members at the Tarkine coast, November 2021, hosted by the North West Group
Members Annual Get-together & Dinner
The three APST Groups take it in turns to organise an annual get-together that is open to all members. It is usually held in November. This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know other people with similar interests and plant enthusiasts from across the State, over a long weekend. Botanically interesting parts of the State are explored with excursions, walks, visits and a communal dinner.
ANPSA - Hobart Conference Jan 2018 - Tasmanian delegates
Australian Native Plants Society Australia Inc. (ANPSA)
The national body of the Society is the "Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) Inc.” (ANPSA). An association conference, at which all Regions are represented, is held biennially in each region on a rotational basis. The executive is usually nominated from the membership of the host region for the ensuing two years.
Banksia coccinea - Western Australia
Known as Waddib by the Noongar people of south-west Western Australia
Common names - scarlet banksia, waratah banksia or Albany banksia
ANPSA - Study Groups
Study Groups form part of ANPSA, and promote interest in growing and studying Australian plants.
Over the years, Study Groups have contributed valuable data to an expanding body of knowledge of Australian native plants and to the breadth of experience in growing Australia’s unique flora. This has included contributing articles to the ANPSA’s flagship journal, Australian Plants, and publication of books of aspects of Australia’s flora.
AP - Australian Plants journal
The Australian Plants journal is a quarterly publication produced by the Australian Plants Society NSW Region Inc. since the late 1950’s to promote knowledge of Australian plants. Articles are contributed by Australian Native Plants Societies’ members or other interested people. Issues usually have a common theme and cover a wide range of subjects under that theme. Each State/Region is invited to compile an issue at regular intervals. Annual subscriptions may be purchased as an added extra to APST Inc. membership, at a reduced cost.
ANPSA - 2024 Biennial Conference & Seminar
The next Conference will be held in Melbourne, Victoria from 30th September to 4th Oct 2024, with the theme “Gardens for Life”. The conference will be hosted by members of the Australian Plants Society (Vic).
Click on the button below to register interest in the next conference.
Register for the next conference
Further details of the Conference and the pre- and post-Conference tours will be posted here and on the as planning proceeds.