The New NBPCA site under construction

[Bretts]

If only it was China it would be finished by now

It seems they have an event coming up 12th November for those that like Opera with an open day the day after.
http://www.voicesintheforest.com.au/

[NBPCA]

Yes, a number of us will be going and be on the grassed area around the Amphitheatre.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Lots of progress on the site over the last few weeks.

NBPCA site 013.JPG

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NBPCA site 006.JPG

You can reall y start to feel the dimension of the future collection when on site now and it feels HUGE.

Grant

[bodhidharma]

Bloody exciting stuff Grant. Worth a trip to the Polly state whens it opens.

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

work on the site continued during December and recommenced in late January. The masonary walls are in place but not the stone walls yet.

The buildings for office, volunteers room etc were up to window height last time I saw it.

A very big crane is on site and so the erection of the complicated roof for the Visitors center should be very soon.

I will be on site again tomorrow but here are some more photos so far.

Masonry walls and scaffolding for roof over Visitors Centre.JPG

The side including the Frost Free Area.JPG

Much higher roof in the new site.JPG

Grant

[Jan]

It certinly looks to be coming on a treat, Grant. I'll have to get myself down there and catch up with changes to the collection before it all moves.

Any estimate of a time for "The Big Move"?

Jan.

[NBPCA]

It certinly looks to be coming on a treat, Grant. I'll have to get myself down there and catch up with changes to the collection before it all moves.

Any estimate of a time for "The Big Move"?

Jan.

Hi Jan,

We have been given an official date for the opening of the National Arboretum Canberra and the NBPCA. It has not yet been made public so I cannot disclose the exact date yet but lets assume it will be early in 2013. The 2013 AABC Convention is in Canberra in May.

I will announce the date as soon as we have clearance.

We will still have one more Floriade at the old site; September and October this year. Another lucky 60,000 plus visitors will get to see us during the month of Floriade celebrations. The new site will be probably finished enough by late winter this year that we will be able to start trials in the new site; Maximum and minimum temps in the outside area and Frost Free Area we hope as well although it could be one of the last items to go in.

As the opening date draws closer we will be able to house some of the new bonsai in the new site as we collect the extra bonsai from around Australia.

So all up it will be a very busy year.

Grant

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

I visited the site today and as I drove up the hill it was cloudy, wet and misty.

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 028.JPG

'
As you get closer the Visitors Centre dome starts to emerge

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 027.JPG

As you get closer it gets bigger

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 033.JPG

Then you get really close

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 034.JPG

And you see how big and tall it is

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 038.JPG

And then you see our site

NAC site 3rd Feb 2012 039.JPG

Work is starting in earnest on our site with lots to happen over the next few weeks,

Grant

[NBPCA]

The third beam of the massive roof was installed today.

Third large beam installed.JPG

The stone walls around the front and sides of the structure are rising quickly

Rock walls being built.JPG

And the actual roofing material over the office, volunteers room and COLA Covered Outdoor Learning Area is going on today as well

Our office roof going on.JPG

Grant

[Craig]

Very Impressive Grant, thanks for keeping us updated. It's going to be a great complex

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

The fourth roof beam was being erected today.

IMG_5029.JPG

A shot from a different angle with the workers adding the roof cross bracing

IMG_5040.JPG

The Stone walls of the Cola are almost finished

IMG_5038.JPG

Its all getting very exciting!

Grant

[kcpoole]

Exciting is and understatement Grant
Ken

[NBPCA]

I went up to the site today and it was a lovely, sunny clear day.

The roof of the Visitors Centre is coming along very quickly.

IMG_5050 - Copy.JPG

IMG_5051 - Copy.JPG

IMG_5055 - Copy.JPG

IMG_5060 - Copy.JPG

IMG_5062 - Copy.JPG

IMG_5064 - Copy.JPG

Work has also started on levelling and filling the NBPCA site in preparation for paving and fit out.

Grant

[Bretts]

Thanks again for the pictures Grant, much apreciated.

Thought a link here to the garden design might save me looking it up all the time

http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au ... ion_winner

[NBPCA]

Hi all,

Despite the incredibly wet weather there have been many things achieved at the arboretum site over the last few weeks.

Most of the heavy beams for the roof are now in place and here is a close up of a section of a beam before it is raised into position.

QLD photos March 2012 091.JPG

QLD photos March 2012 092.JPG

Here is the beam that the section on the ground will be joined to.

QLD photos March 2012 095.JPG

here is a stone mason building the stone wall under the long window that will give us views down the valley from inside te collection.

QLD photos March 2012 109.JPG

QLD photos March 2012 102.JPG

Segments of the roof on the visitors Centre are now being covered with a layer of board made from Araurcaria. The roof will consist of many layers with the final layer being Zinc in some sections and glass in the other.

The roof on our offices is nearly complete and the construction of the roof on the Frost Free Area has also commenced.

Work will soon commence on raising and leveling the site inside the NBPCA for eventual paving and construction of the benches and pillars on which the bonsai and penjing will be displayed.

Grant