JOHN HAWKER is a horticulturist with over 40 years’ experience working on botanic and historic gardens.  John has qualifications in Agricultural Science, Horticultural Science and Viticulture.  He commenced work at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne in December 1982, moved to Urban Design in 1990 and Heritage Victoria in 1995.  In 1989, John was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study overseas the conservation and management of botanic and historic gardens.

John worked for 23 years at Heritage Victoria assessing places for the Victorian Heritage Register and provided advice on their protection and conservation. He retired in January 2019.  John has undertaken numerous garden surveys, and participated in heritage studies and masterplans. 

Since 1982 he has also been involved in the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees and contributed to the Trust’s publications on Cemeteries: Our Heritage and Conserving Cemeteries.  John is a co-author of Elms in Australia.

John is a former committee member of the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.  He is currently Patron for the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Foundation, member of the Port Arthur Conservation Advisory Committee, Williamstown Botanic Gardens Advisory Committee, President of the Friends of Victoria Gardens Prahran and is a garden volunteer and guide at the heritage listed Bishopscourt, East Melbourne.