Celebrating 30 Years of the Don McNair Herbarium
Thirty years ago, a local auto-electrician’s passion for native flora laid the foundation for one of the Hunter region’s most significant botanical collections. Today, the Don McNair Herbarium holds more than 14,500 specimens, supporting research, teaching, and conservation.
“This collection is critical for understanding how plants adapt to their environment and for training the next generation of scientists,” says Dr Ben Long, Herbarium Director.
As we mark this milestone, the Herbarium continues to grow as a living archive - preserving biodiversity and enabling discoveries that shape our future.
Learn more about the Herbarium: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/environmental-and-life-sciences/research/the-don-mcnair-herbarium
Make a donation: https://donate.newcastle.edu.au/the-don-mcnair-herbarium
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.