Nestled in Grevillea Park on the northern shore of Lake Burley Griffin, a native plant garden honouring the life and legacy of Marion Mahony Griffin will strengthen Canberra’s connection to nature. 

Peter Graves from the Walter Burley Griffin Society has been a Canberran for 50 years and said “it’s about time” the ‘mother of Canberra’ was significantly recognised in this way.

“Marion is the largely forgotten partner of the people who really gave birth to Canberra,” he said.

“The more examples that we have of Marion, her work, and the person, it will be to the better for reminding us why Canberra is the nation’s capital in the national interest.”

This part of Ngunnawal country was transformed in her eye-catching artwork that won the couple the competition in 1911 to design Australia’s national capital.

Mr Graves said Marion voluntarily allowed Walter to take the running in their partnership while she took a step back, although she was a pioneering architect in her own right.

“The permanent plantings that we’re going to be having here today will be a further reminder of the colouring and the interest that Marion had in the bush,” he said.

The native garden is inspired by the Landcare ACT Wellbeing through Nature program and Marion’s documented deep love with the Australian bush.

A ‘Marion gardening party’ of volunteers will meet monthly to conserve both the garden and her legacy.

Program coordinator Sally Holliday said the garden, located near the Clare Holland House hospice at Barton, is designed to be an environmental meditation and healing space.

There’s no statue of Marion at the garden, and Ms Holliday explained why: “It’s more that we’re embodying her legacy and her connection with nature through the process of gardening.

“So, it’s not necessarily going to be a very obvious spot initially. Over time it will grow, and we hope that people from the hospice and surrounds can come and enjoy.”

Emily Catt from the National Archives of Australia is the woman behind the deep dive into Marion Mahoney Griffin through her carefully curated exhibition, ‘Marion: the other Griffin’, at the Archives last year.

Ms Catt collaborated with Canberra Interfaith Forum, Landcare ACT, and the Walter Burley Griffin Society to form the garden tribute to Marion Mahony Griffin.

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