The Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens were established in 1879, and are situated at the rear of the current administration building. The gardens enabled the students to sit for examinations for registration by the Pharmacy Board of Victoria. An important aspect of this course was the study of Materia Medica, or botanical materials used for medicinal purposes.Colour photograph of a palm tree in the botanical garden sat the back of the Ballarat School of Mines Administration Building.smb botanical gardens, botanical gardens, smb, ballarat school of mines, school of mines ballarat, ballarat, photograph, phoenix dactylifera palmae, date palm, parks and gardens, landscape