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8563.0 - Botanic Gardens, Australia, 1999-2000  
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 23/04/2001   
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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

INTRODUCTION

This publication presents results, in respect of the 1999–2000 financial year, from an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) census of employing organisations engaged in the operation of botanic gardens. The information relates to employing businesses and statutory authorities whose main activity was the operation of a botanic garden, herbarium or arboretum. In addition, botanic garden activities of Commonwealth and State government departments and local government authorities which employ staff to operate and maintain botanic gardens were included in the collection. However, non-employing organisations operating botanic gardens were excluded from the collection.

Size of Industry

At the end of June 2000, there were 72 employing organisations operating botanic gardens. These organisations operated 123 locations comprising 74 which were mainly botanic gardens, 24 which were arboreta and 25 which were herbaria. The increase from 53 employing organisations operating botanic gardens at the end of June 1997 was mainly due to the expansion in the number of local government authorities operating botanical gardens and some re-structuring of some of the organisations.

The operations of these organisations covered an area of 3,664 hectares, which comprised 3,050 hectares of botanic gardens and 614 hectares of arboreta.

Number of visits

It is estimated that during 1999-2000, there were 11.8 million visits to botanic gardens.

The estimation of the number of visits to botanic gardens was based on several different methods, with 66% of visits being estimated by the use of gate counters and the remainder by other methods such as periodic sample counts.

Sources of income

The total income of botanic gardens during 1999-2000 was $92 million. These organisations were very dependent on government funding (80% of all income) for their operations, but this dependence has decreased from 86% in 1996-97.

Expenses

During 1999-2000, botanic gardens had total expenses of $82 million.

Persons working

At the end of June 2000, there were 1,250 employees and 1,991 volunteers working for botanic gardens, resulting in a total workforce of 3,241 persons. At the end of June 1997, there were 1,129 employees and 1,493 volunteers.


1 KEY FIGURES

1996-1997
1999-2000
Percentage change
Organisations at end June (no.)
53
72
36
Locations at end June
Botanic gardens (no.)
64
74
16
Arboreta (no.)
r19
24
26
Herbaria (no.)
20
25
25
Total (no.)
103
123
19
Hectares at end June
Botanic gardens (no.)
na
3,050
na
Arboreta (no.)
na
614
na
Total (no.)
na
3,664
na
Number of visits (m.)
na
11.8
na
Employees at end June (no.)
1,129
1,250
11
Volunteers during June (no.)
r1,493
1,991
33
Income
Government funding ($m)
70.9
73.4
4
Other income ($m)
11.8
18.4
56
Total ($m)
82.7
91.8
11
Expenses
Wages and salaries ($m)
40.7
44.0
8
Other expenses ($m)
29.5
37.5
27
Total ($m)
70.2
81.5
16
na not available
r figure revised since previous issue
Copyright ã Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000

EXPLANATORY NOTES


INTRODUCTION

1 This publication presents results in respect of the 1999-00 financial year from a census of employing organisations engaged in the operation of botanic gardens.

SCOPE

2 The scope of the botanic gardens census was:
  • all employing businesses and statutory authorities whose main activity was the operation of a botanic garden, herbarium or arboretum. These businesses and organisations were classified to ANZSIC Class 9231 (Zoological and Botanic Gardens); and
  • botanic garden, herbarium and arboretum operations of Commonwealth and State government departments and local government authorities which employed staff to maintain these gardens.

STATISTICAL UNIT

3 The unit for which non-government sector statistics were reported in the census was the management unit. The management unit is the highest-level accounting unit within a business or organisation, having regard for industry homogeneity, for which accounts are maintained. In nearly all cases it coincides with the legal entity owning the business (i.e. company, partnership, trust, sole operator, etc.). In the case of large diversified businesses, however, there may be more than one management unit, each coinciding with a 'division' or 'line of business'. A division or line of business is recognised where separate and comprehensive accounts are compiled for it.

4 For government organisations, the statistical unit was defined to be those parts of the organisations responsible for providing botanic garden services.

REFERENCE PERIOD

5 Data contained in the tables in this publication relate to all employing organisations operating botanic gardens (see paragraph 2) during the year ended June 2000. Counts of businesses and organisations include only those that were operating at 30 June 2000.

RELIABILITY OF THE DATA

6 Because the census does not have a sample component, the data are not subject to sampling variability. However, other inaccuracies collectively referred to as non-sampling error may affect the data. These non-sampling errors may arise from a number of sources, including:
  • deficiencies in the register of units from which the census was taken;
  • errors in the reporting of data by respondents;
  • errors in the capturing or processing of data;
  • estimation for missing or mis-reported data; and
  • definition and classification errors.

7 Every effort has been made to reduce non-sampling error to a minimum by careful design and testing of questionnaires, efficient operating procedures and systems, and appropriate methodology.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

8 ABS publications draw extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated; without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

9 This publication is one of a series to be issued in respect of 1999–2000 for a range of cultural services industries. Other publications in this series are:

Motion Picture Exhibition, Australia,1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8654.0)
Public Libraries, Australia, 1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8561.0)
Museums, Australia,1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8560.0)
Video Hire Outlets, Australia,1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8562.0)
Television Industry, Australia, 1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8559.0)
Performing Arts, Australia,1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8697.0)
Commercial Art Galleries, Australia, 1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8651.0)
Film and Video Production and Distribution, Australia, 1999–2000 (Cat. no. 8679.0)

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