What do Robert Menzies, bunny suits (the scientific kind) and African violets have in common? That’s right, they’ve all been inside our Phytotron!
Take a good look at our old Phytotron – today it’s getting a makeover!
It may sound like a sci-fi robot, but the Phytotron is actually a controlled facility that simulates and recreates more than 100 different environments for growing all kinds of plants.
Lloyd Evans taking a stroll through the Phytotron in his flattering ‘bunny suit’
Our trusty old Phytotron has housed over 3 million plants in the past 50 years. So this year we thought it was about time our buddy had a much needed makeover – and today we’re celebrating with a grand reopening.
We have also gathered some fabulous archival material, including a recording of Prime Minister Robert Menzies opening the building, and ABC footage from 1967 which was broadcast to the world as part of the first live production of TV show Our World.
The new refurbishment will enable the Phytotron to keep producing great science and act as a melting pot for the world’s leading plant scientists to tackle pressing global issues.
But what exactly goes on inside the Phytotron? Take a look at this cool time-lapse footage we took of a cotton ball popping open:
You can head to our website for more information.
23rd May 2015 at 3:41 pm
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