Celebrating 30 Years of the Don McNair Herbarium

Monday, 17 November 2025

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.

Don McNair sits at a desk, looking at specimens

“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 Herbariumhttps://www.newcastle.edu.au/school/environmental-and-life-sciences/research/the-don-mcnair-herbarium

Make a donationhttps://donate.newcastle.edu.au/the-don-mcnair-herbarium

Volunteer John Sharples moves specimens on equipmentSpecimens and equipment sit on a tableBanksia integrifolia specimen on a black background


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