Published on : Tuesday, July 8, 2014
The Australian garden, with its strong Northern Territory influences, has won a gold award and been judged best in show at the world’s biggest flower show.
The garden, named ‘Essence of Australia’, uses the iconic Aboriginal Rainbow Serpent as its inspiration and some unique modern technology.
Whenever someone at the garden tweets using the hashtag #EssenceofAus, software in the pools makes the water ‘rumble’, signifying the awakening of the rainbow serpent which is sleeping underneath.
Minister for Tourism Matt Conlan said the garden’s success at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show at Hampton Court Palace, outside London, was an outstanding achievement.
“As well as the overall ‘Rainbow Serpent’ design, the garden features references to other Territory icons such as Uluru and the MacDonnell Ranges, natural rock formations, the red dirt of Central Australia, Top End billabongs and native NT flora. It even includes a ford crossing like the ones found on the outback roads that flood in the wet season,’’ he said.
“I congratulate Jim Fogarty, who designed the garden, on such a magnificent success.”
The Northern Territory Government is using this presence at the show to mount its latest international campaign to attract more tourists to the NT.
“Tourism NT has teamed up with Tourism Victoria, Qantas and Trailfinders, a leading UK tour operator, in a joint marketing campaign planned around the flower show,’’ Mr Conlan said.
“It will encourage consumers to think of the NT and Victoria as a ‘must-do’ combination when planning a holiday to Australia. The extra exposure from the Aussie garden’s success will also provide an added incentive.’’
The campaign also capitalises on the highly successful Royal visit to Uluru in April and the England cricket squad playing the Chairman’s XI match in Alice Springs late last year, both of which substantially lifted the NT’s profile in the UK.
The new campaign will support the Qantas service from London to Melbourne and promote regional dispersal around the Northern Territory by using a special ‘Qantas Walkabout Pass’ for flights to Alice Springs, Ayers Rock and Darwin from Melbourne.
The Hampton Court Flower Show covers 34 acres, includes 600 exhibitors and attracted around 150 thousand visitors last year.
Tags: Australian garden, Northern Territory
|
||
   
|
||
