About the Queensland Herbarium

The Queensland Herbarium is the centre for science, research and information on Queensland’s ecosystems and species of plants, fungi, algae and animals.

The Queensland Herbarium building at Toowong houses the state’s plant specimen collection of more than 911,000 specimens, representing Queensland’s native and naturalised plant species and 150 years of species discovery. Botanists and members of the public continue to contribute thousands of specimens to the Herbarium collection each year, identifying new species and adding new distribution records.

Queensland’s ecosystems have been surveyed, mapped and classified into 1435 regional ecosystems across the state, and are the subject of ecological research, condition assessment and monitoring.

The Herbarium’s research provides the essential information needed for the conservation assessment and management of Queensland’s species and ecosystems and helps us to better understand ecological processes and the services provided by ecosystems and wildlife.

We also provide a plant identification and information service to the public.

Plant identification services will now only be available between 10am and 2pm Monday to Friday of each week. Specimens will continue to be received as usual with items queued for identification worked on by rostered staff during this time.

Poisons calls and urgent enquiries will be dealt with directly.

The Queensland Herbarium is also a partner in the Australian Tropical Herbarium in Cairns.

Visitor information

The Queensland Herbarium is located at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, 6km west of Brisbane city. Opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

You can access a behind the scenes look at the Queensland Herbarium by taking a virtual tour. Conduct a self-guided tour by clicking your way through the building or watch a quick tour with videos by clicking the black triangle on the bottom left-hand corner. Videos explaining each area of the Herbarium are available where you see a blue triangle.

Contact us if you would like further information on our services and research areas.

Volunteers

The Queensland Herbarium has a dedicated team of volunteers helping with specimen processing and other tasks. If you would like to enquire about volunteering, please contact us.

Public reference centre

The public reference centre is now open for use.