Oh by the way. The secret is out. NBPCA future plans.

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Last Saturday the plans for the future home of the NBPCA became public.( Oh yes and the National Arboretum Canberra, Visitors Center, Reflective Pavilion as well)

This is the link to have a look. http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/attac ... ings_2.pdf

It is yet to have the final tick of approval from the authorising body down here and it is open for a period to display.

Some aspects may change in a minor way but we expect it to be much as you see on the plans. If it is approved as expected we could see some construction start next February and be 12 months in the building; then fit out etc.

I will be at the AABC/BFA show in Sydney with up to date info.

Very exciting times and all positive. Many millions of dollars are being spent on the site and our proportion is not insignificant.

I am happy to discuss with you what we know at this stage.

Grant Bowie
Interim Curator
National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia

[Mitchell]

Those Automated revolving stands, should be done and shipped in a couple of months mate.

I think we should probably move them closer to the Reflective Pavilion, just for convenience and ease of viewing.

[Steven]

I can't see any mention of white table cloths and bamboo place mats in the design Grant

In all seriousness, it looks absolutely world class. What a fantastic opportunity for Aussie bonsai to have such a spectacular house for our National collection!

The NBPCA Management committee are to be congratulated for not only getting the collection off the ground in the first place but for making it such a success that the government recognise it as being worthy of spending big bucks on the permanent site.

Grant, maybe there is a way that the AusBonsai community can combine our resources to help in some way. If there is anything on the wish list that we might be able to assist with, please keep us in mind.

Regards,
Steven

[Waltron]

Looks good, very exciting and promising; this is a great thing to have happen.
What are the approximate dimensions of the display and back of house areas, how many tree's do you expect to have on display and out back and how does this compare to your current venue?
Given that you're situated to the south of the complex, do you expect that any areas will be void of sun during the winter?
And...
What material will be your security screen roof?

[Pup]

G,day Grant, do you mean that you will not have that info for us in MAY .
Steven there is one thing that is a permanent, as to needs and wants for the NBPCA.
That is quality Trees and Suiseki. So any of the members that think they have a tree, or suiseki worthy of the collection, why not if you are in the East offer it to them.
It can be a loan long or short term.
If you are in the West It has to be gifted as the Logistic's are too much for return. Satsuki from the West can be returned so if you have one that is of the quality you would like to see in this Fabulous new Building why not offer it.

Congratulations for all those that have been involved in the success of this project, as has been said it is a wonderful achievement after a long journey and is almost over.

Cheers and thank you Pup

[Grant Bowie]

I can't see any mention of white table cloths and bamboo place mats in the design Grant

In all seriousness, it looks absolutely world class. What a fantastic opportunity for Aussie bonsai to have such a spectacular house for our National collection!

The NBPCA Management committee are to be congratulated for not only getting the collection off the ground in the first place but for making it such a success that the government recognise it as being worthy of spending big bucks on the permanent site.

Grant, maybe there is a way that the AusBonsai community can combine our resources to help in some way. If there is anything on the wish list that we might be able to assist with, please keep us in mind.

Regards,
Steven

Hi Steven,

It will be a very good venue for many years to come and shows the level of support form our local ACT Territory government. The ACT has only a population base of some 360,000(or 240,000 during January school holidays apparently)

There is still lots to do to get it up and running smoothly and there will be lots of ways for the Ausbonsai community; plus the AABC, BFA etc to contribute.

Thanks for your continuing support.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

G,day Grant, do you mean that you will not have that info for us in MAY .
Steven there is one thing that is a permanent, as to needs and wants for the NBPCA.
That is quality Trees and Suiseki. So any of the members that think they have a tree, or suiseki worthy of the collection, why not if you are in the East offer it to them.
It can be a loan long or short term.
If you are in the West It has to be gifted as the Logistic's are too much for return. Satsuki from the West can be returned so if you have one that is of the quality you would like to see in this Fabulous new Building why not offer it.

Congratulations for all those that have been involved in the success of this project, as has been said it is a wonderful achievement after a long journey and is almost over.

Cheers and thank you Pup

Hi Pup,

Thanks for your words and encouragements. We will certainly have a lot to say at the AABC Convention and there will be quite a big ACT and NBPCA contingent there.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Looks good, very exciting and promising; this is a great thing to have happen.
What are the approximate dimensions of the display and back of house areas, how many tree's do you expect to have on display and out back and how does this compare to your current venue?
Given that you're situated to the south of the complex, do you expect that any areas will be void of sun during the winter?
And...
What material will be your security screen roof?

Hi,

The new "back of house area' is about the same size as we currently have at our existing temporary facility both front and back of house; so that should give you some idea of the size. Numbers of trees on display can vary dramatically depending on size but we estimate between 60 and 80 trees. The Fitout has not been finalised yet and we have a large say in this area as to spacing of trees and location of benches, pedestals, special display areas etc.

Also we hope to have a frost free area(not a tropical area or glass house as such but somewhere trees like figs, jade, Jaboticaba, possibly bougainvillea, lilly pilly can grow in a protected from frost way)

The low profile of the domed roof does not throw a great shadow and the architects are arranging a "shadow thingy" so we can asses its impact.(it was one of my first thoughts when I saw the plan.

We never discuss security other than to say it will be satisfactory. Armed Rotweillers patrolling night and day maybe; stun guns, sensor pads, movement detectors, alarms, sirens, cameras etc. And thats just to keep out the possums.

Grant

[Waltron]

We never discuss security other than to say it will be satisfactory. Armed Rotweillers patrolling night and day maybe; stun guns, sensor pads, movement detectors, alarms, sirens, cameras etc. And thats just to keep out the possums.

Grant

Considering it is held up by a tension cable I assume it isn't rigid thus ruling out a steel mesh type roof. Maybe some kind of shade cloth? It's the amount of sunlight entering the areas that I was considering, though I do like the sound of your possum protection.

[NBPCA]

We never discuss security other than to say it will be satisfactory. Armed Rotweillers patrolling night and day maybe; stun guns, sensor pads, movement detectors, alarms, sirens, cameras etc. And thats just to keep out the possums.

Grant

Considering it is held up by a tension cable I assume it isn't rigid thus ruling out a steel mesh type roof. Maybe some kind of shade cloth? It's the amount of sunlight entering the areas that I was considering, though I do like the sound of your possum protection.

The tension cable had already be dispensed with after they found out it would be very expensive.

It is likely to be a meshed roof with a single pole or two to support it. It is likely to be stronger than our existing one which has stood up to everything well so far.

We will most likely put some seating around the pole/poles and integrate them into the overall effect.

Grant

[Mojo Moyogi]

Grant,
Just curious and I'm not sure if this has been addressed yet in a previous post, but when will there be photographs of the collection on the NBPCA website, other than the 6 trees that have been on the site for the last 2 years? There are photographers and web design capable people throughout the bonsai community, surely some one can assist the NBPCA if they need it/don't have funding to promote the collection to people who have not yet visited.

Cheers,
Mojo