The Olive Pink Botanic Garden, specialising in plants from Australia's desert zone, is spread over an area of 16 hectares in Alice Springs. The garden was established in 1956 as the Australian Desert Area Plant Reserve as a result of years of effort by anthropologist and Aboriginal rights activist Miss Olive Muriel Pink, who became the garden's first curator.
The Botanic Garden is part of an impressive area of Royal Land, stretching east from the Todd River to the southern boundaries of the central business district of Alice Springs. Until 1956, this land was no man's land. It was grazed by wild goats, rabbits and cattle, which greatly altered the character of the of the vegetation - when Miss Pink took over the land there were no trees or shrubs.
For two decades, Miss Pink and her indigenous helpers inhabitants have desperately struggled with the arid natural conditions and almost total lack of funding. Together they have planted trees and shrubs here, trees and shrubs native to central Australia, as well as cacti, garden flowers and other plants that can withstand extreme summer temperatures.
After Miss Pink's death in 1975, the reserve came under the management of the of the Northern Territory state government, which decided to continue the work of the of the enthusiast. A network of walking trails was laid out through the garden, a visitor centre, and planted river eucalyptus, acacia and other trees. There was also well and recreated a sand dune ecosystem.
In 1985, the garden, named after its founder, was opened to the public. Ten years later it was listed as a National Treasure of Australia.
