Test Garden
A living experiment in gardening for the future and a green gathering place for sharing knowledge about plants.
The Test Garden is a special place, located on the roof of the Fed Square car park.
A green urban oasis surrounded by concrete, hemmed in on two sides by a bustling public square and the city’s major rail network, it is much more than it seems.
The Test Garden is a place of experimentation and learning, giving visitors a taste of the naturalistic planting style planned for Laak Boorndap – the 18,000 square metre garden and public space being built as part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation.
Laak Boorndap will be the first garden of its type and scale to be planted in the Southern Hemisphere – a visionary project that brings the most up-to-date design, research and practical horticultural knowledges together.
As a window into what is to come, the Test Garden incorporates both natives and introduced species. The dense, multi-layered planting design thrives and flowers at different times throughout the year, creating a beautiful, ever-changing experience for visitors.
The garden is open to everyone all year round – and we regularly invite horticulturists, ecologists, landscape designers and artists to share insights or host workshops, bringing to life the hidden stories of plants.
We invite you to plan a visit – and join in the conversation.
As our cities and climate change, we need to think about what our gardens of the future will look like.
How can we build resilient, beautiful green spaces to help cool our cities, increase biodiversity and provide respite and enjoyment for people?
As we grow and adapt, we will share what we learn. We hope the seeds of what we’re planting here will spread and take root – helping to create greener cities of the future for everyone.
Image credit: Sarah Pannell
The Test Garden is an example of naturalistic planting – a type of garden design that mimics how plant communities are found in nature.
Densely planted and highly curated, the garden will provide an ever-changing experience for visitors throughout the year, as different plants grow, flower, go to seed and decay.
In the Test Garden you will find both natives and introduced species, each plant specifically chosen to provide structure, function and beauty in the overall garden design.
Image credit: James Henry
Many pollinating insects visit the garden, and the dense foliage and variety of flowering plants provide resources and refuge for different species – as well as a quiet and beautiful place for people to drop in and visit.
If you’re interested to learn more about the variety of insects that visit or make the Test Garden their home, check out the Insects of Melbourne guide – available to download below, or you can pick up a hard copy at one of our free events.
Image credit: Phoebe Powell
The Test Garden is a space for ongoing learning, horticultural experimentation and research.
We regularly program talks and special events with experts and practitioners to connect with community and share knowledge.
As we build Laak Boorndap, the Test Garden is our hub for regular public talks and tours, where you can hear about the design ethos, the research findings and pick up insights from our gardeners.
Image credit: Sarah Pannell
Gardens are inherently creative spaces, and the Test Garden artist-in-residence program connects artists with researchers at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus. The artists are commissioned to create new artworks, facilitate programs and workshops, and share insights into their research and art process at in-conversation events.
We also regularly host artist-led creative workshops in the Test Garden as part of our monthly Open Days and seasonal event programming, providing an opportunity for visitors to share in the long history of nature-inspired art practice.
Image credit: James Henry
Learn more about the story behind the Test Garden
What’s on in the garden
Saturday 16 May, 10am–12pm | Test Garden
Join us in the Test Garden this Melbourne Design Week for a conversation about Laak Boorndap with HASSELL’s Principal Landscape Architect, Jon Hazelwood, led by MAP Co’s Director of Programming, Sarah Tutton.
Plant List
Keen to introduce some of the Test Garden plants into your own garden? Check out our full plant list for species names and photographs. Contact your local nursery to check if they are in stock, or for native species, try a speciality native nursery near you.
For more Test Garden plant inspiration, check out our Plant of the Week series on Instagram.
How to get to the garden
Insects of Melbourne Guide
In 2026, City of Melbourne, Fed Square and Heartscapes have come together to create Insects of Melbourne. This guide introduces you to some of the most common, rare, colourful and curious insects you might spot around the city.
Download a copy, print it out and take it with you as you head outside and get to know your local critters. Stay tuned to find out how you can pick up a physical copy.
All images in the guide were sourced from iNaturalist. View the photo bibliography.
Acknowledgements
Delivered by: MAP Co
Sustainability partner: Bupa
Design: Hassell in partnership with Super Bloom, James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett
Plant supplier: Arbornet
Construction: Colombo Design Partnership
Research partner: University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus
Image credits: Sarah Pannell
