About the Peter Francis Points Arboretum
About Us
Nestled in the hills outside Coleraine, Victoria, stands one of the world’s oldest and most diverse planted collections of Australian native trees.
The Peter Francis Points Arboretum contains over 10,000 documented Australian native trees and shrubs, grown for display, research and everyday enjoyment.
Our collections have been developed over the past 50 years, and include species sourced from all over Australia, and some indigenous to this area of Western Victoria. Several threatened species are also represented and nurtured here. The Eucalyptus genus is featured at the Arboretum, as well as a diverse range of other native trees and plants. Our Eucalyptus Collection and Banksia Collection are each registered with the Garden Plant Conservation Association of Australia (GPCAA).
'The Points' gets its name from two peaks of land on the site. The soil zones range from ironstone gravels, sands and loams, through to black cracking clays. This range of soil types allows great diversity in plantings.
As well as a respected botanical reference, The Points is a valued attraction for locals and tourists. Several walking tracks weave through the 37-hectare site, for visitors to explore our collections and the natural bushland atmosphere they create. Take a picnic or enjoy a BBQ at the playground, to make a day of your visit.
What is an arboretum?
An ‘arboretum’ is a place where different species of trees are planted and displayed for educational and scientific purposes - a library or museum of living trees. At The Points, we showcase Australian natives from around the country, with a particular focus on Eucalypts.
Our Purpose
What we do
The Peter Francis Points Arboretum Inc is a charitable organisation whose purpose is to develop and maintain documented collections of Australian native plants. The Arboretum operates as a museum for public exhibition, scientific study and celebration of our natural botanical heritage. In achieving its purpose, the organisation also seeks to:
- Continue to be recognised as an arboretum of national significance;
- Foster community pride and participation in the Arboretum;
- Encourage tourists to visit this valuable regional attraction; and
- Acknowledge and maintain the legacy of the Arboretum’s founders in the 1960s, and all those who have contributed since.
Membership
Join the Association
Members of the Peter Francis Points Arboretum Inc share an interest in the Arboretum and its development. We are fortunate to have members who have contributed to The Points since its very early days, through to members who have joined us only recently.
Why join?
Joining the Association means you will be kept in touch with what’s happening at the Arboretum, and will be given opportunities to contribute to the Association if you choose to. Even if you’re not able to contribute in a ‘hands on’ way, being a member of the Association shows your support, and the small membership fee helps us too.
What are the benefits?
Members have the right to be involved in general meetings of the Association, and to receive notification of these meetings. Our members also receive updates on our progress, including our exclusive members’ newsletter, Talking Points.
What does being a member involve?
We are an incorporated association, and this means that our members are bound by a set of rules which govern how we operate. You can request a copy of our ‘Rules of the Association’ by contacting us. Aside from following these Rules, members can choose how involved they would like to be in the Association. Some members attend our general meetings, some volunteer, and others simply enjoy keeping informed of what’s happening at The Points.
Apply for Membership
Annual membership is currently $25 for the 2021 subscription period.
If you would like to join, please contact us and we can send you our membership application form.