Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur
Perdana Botanical Garden is Kuala Lumpur's oldest public park, planned in 1888 around a dammed stretch of the Sungai Bras Bras and formally opened on 13 May 1889. For most of the 20th century it was known as the Lake Gardens; it became Taman Tasik Perdana in 1975 and was renamed Perdana Botanical Gardens in 2011. Today the 91.6-hectare (226-acre) park is home to the KL Bird Park, KL Butterfly Park, Deer Park, Hibiscus Garden, and Orchid Garden.
Public Gardens
Founding era, from 1888
Lake Gardens
Early–mid 20th century
Taman Tasik Perdana
Renamed 1975
Perdana Botanical Gardens
Renamed 28 June 2011
1888
Alfred Venning, Selangor’s State Treasurer, proposes a botanical garden in the Sungai Bras Bras valley. British Resident Frank Swettenham approves state funding, and the river is dammed to form an ornamental lake, named Sydney Lake after Swettenham’s wife, Constance "Sydney" Swettenham. Towkay Chow Ah Yeok donates 100 chempaka and orange trees for the first planting.
13 May 1889
The garden is formally opened by Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, Governor of the Straits Settlements.
1975
Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak renames the park Taman Tasik Perdana (Perdana Lake Gardens).
1991
The Kuala Lumpur Bird Park opens on 15 November, eventually growing into one of the world's largest covered bird parks.
1992
The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park opens, housing thousands of butterflies across a landscaped 7,400 sq m enclosure.
28 June 2011
Prime Minister Dato' Sri Najib Razak renames the park Perdana Botanical Gardens, the name it carries today.
Perdana Lake
The original ornamental lake, formed by damming the Sungai Bras Bras in 1888 and once known as Sydney Lake.
KL Bird Park
Opened 1991; roughly 8.5 hectares (20.9 acres) of walk-in aviary housing more than 3,000 birds from over 200 species.
KL Butterfly Park
Opened 1992; about 7,400 sq m (80,000 sq ft) of landscaped garden with over 5,000 butterflies.
Deer Park
A small enclosed deer sanctuary within the gardens, popular with families.
Hibiscus Garden
A themed garden dedicated to Malaysia's national flower.
Orchid Garden
Displays orchid species and hybrids native to and cultivated in Malaysia.
It was planned in 1888 by Alfred Venning, Selangor's State Treasurer, and formally opened on 13 May 1889 by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith.
It was known as the Lake Gardens for most of the 20th century, renamed Taman Tasik Perdana in 1975, and became Perdana Botanical Gardens in 2011.
The park covers 91.6 hectares (226 acres) in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, larger than its original 173-acre footprint at founding.
The lake was created by damming the Sungai Bras Bras and named after Constance "Sydney" Swettenham, wife of British Resident Frank Swettenham, who approved funding for the garden. It’s now generally referred to as Perdana Lake.
The park contains the KL Bird Park, KL Butterfly Park, Deer Park, Hibiscus Garden, and Orchid Garden, alongside the original lake and jogging trails.
Sources
