Information icon
Closure notice due to the extreme heat forecast for Monday 29 December - The Bicentennial Conservatory, where Wildlife Photographer of the Year is held, will be closing at 2pmMount Lofty Botanic Garden will be closed due to extreme fire danger rating in the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

ABG Nelumbo Pond 3

Simpson Shadehouse


The Simpson Shadehouse is the perfect place to find inspiration for your veranda, outdoor entertaining areas and patches of your garden that may be in shade.

Originally opened in 1919, the building is an example of an inter-war bush-house structure, with a shady tropical forest inside that provides refuge from South Australia's harsh climate.

It was named in honour of Mr Alfred Muller Simpson who served on the Board of Governors at Adelaide Botanic Garden from 1899-1917. Funds were generously donated by the family for the construction, costing £530 to build.

A diverse botanical collection of plants can be found inside the Simpson Shadehouse including tree ferns, rhapis palms, camellias, begonias, hydrangeas, fuschias, platycerium and pteris.

Find the shadehouse nestled between the Mediterranean Garden and Australian Forest.