Seat Dedications

A Seat Dedication is a donation to Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria. 
 
The Dedication cost and duration are as follows: 
5 years - $7,000 
10 years - $12,000 
12 years - $14,000 
 
Your donation is fully tax-deductible and will ensure the Gardens continue to thrive for future generations. If you are donating via a trust, foundation or Private Ancillary Fund yourself, please get in touch with the Philanthropy Team. 

Note that there are limited seats available for dedication within Melbourne Gardens. 

Please allow eight weeks from the time of your donation for your seat to be placed in the Gardens. 

You can choose a Seat Dedication that lasts for either 5, 10 or 12 years. At the end of the dedication period, we will contact you to ask if you wish to renew your seat dedication. If you do not wish to renew your seat, your commemorative plaque can be forwarded to you to keep. 

The seats at Cranbourne Gardens are secured to the ground so cannot be moved. Please see the Cranbourne location map when submitting your Dedicate a Seat online form to identify your choice of seat location. 

Yes, a GPS tracker will be attached to your seat before it is placed in your preferred location (Melbourne Gardens only). This will enable you to locate your seat quickly and without much searching. Details on how to use the seat tracker system will be provided after your seat is placed in the Gardens.

Your donation is invested in the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria to support the long-term conservation and development of the Gardens for the enjoyment of future generations. 

Please contact us on 03 9252 2332 to check the progress of your seat. 

These Seat Dedication Terms and Conditions govern the life of your seat dedication and are intended to be read in conjunction with the Seat Dedication donation page available on the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) website (www.rbg.vic.gov.au/support-us/seat-dedications/) 
 

1. Definitions

1.1. In these Terms and Conditions:
Claims means any claim, demand, action, suit of proceeding for damages, debt, restitution, equitable compensation, account, injunctive relief, specific performance or other remedy, whether by original claim, cross claim or otherwise, whether arising at common law, in equity, under statute or otherwise, wherever arising, existing or able to be made at the time of these Terms and Conditions duly executed by You. 

1.2 Commencing Date means the date on which the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria (the Foundation) receives  
a) payment of the complete Donation;  
b) the completed Seat Dedication Donation Form provided on the website; and  
c) these Terms and Conditions duly executed by You. 

1.3 Dedication Period means the period of time referred to in Item x of the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

1.4 Donation Fee means the donation fee referred to in Item x of the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

1.5 Area means the location in the Gardens chosen by You in Item 17 of the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

1.6 Maintenance Fee has the meaning given to it in Clause 9.2 of these Terms and Conditions. 

1.7 Plaque means a dedication plaque installed on your seat in accordance with Clause 5.1 of these Terms and Conditions. 

1.8 Terms and Conditions means these terms and conditions and the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

1.9 Foundation Notice means Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation Victoria ABN  40 584 408 967. 

1.10 Foundation Notice Details means Philanthropy Team, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Birdwood Avenue Melbourne 3004 or email to philanthropy@rbg.vic.gov.au.  

1.11 You/Your means the person identified in Item 3 of the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

2. Delegation of Seat Dedication Management 

2.1 The Foundation has delegated the management and administration of the Seat Dedication Program to Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV). Accordingly, all terms and conditions outlined herein apply equally to RBGV as the acting agent of the Foundation. Any reference to “the Foundation” in these Terms shall be interpreted to include RBGV where relevant to the operation, communication, or delivery of the Seat Dedication Program. 

2.2 RBGV is authorised to act on behalf of the Foundation in matters relating to the Seat Dedication Program, including but not limited to processing applications, managing communications, maintaining records, approving plaque inscriptions and facilitating any associated services. 

3. Grant of Dedication 

3.1. The Foundation agrees to grant You the right to dedicate a seat acknowledged by a personalised Plaque for the Dedication Period in consideration of Your payment of the Donation Fee, in accordance with these Terms and Conditions. 

3.2. The Foundation retains the right to terminate this agreement due to any breach by You, without prior notice to You. 

4. Date that Terms and Conditions Apply 

4.1. You acknowledge that this agreement is between You and the Foundation and that these Terms and Conditions apply from the Commencing Date. 

5. Dedication Period 

5.1. You acknowledge that the Dedication Period begins on the Commencing Date when the donation is received in the Foundation account and lasts for 10 years from the Commencing Date. 

5.2. The Foundation retains the right to terminate this agreement due to any breach by You and end the Dedication Period prematurely, without prior notice to You. 

6. Installation of Seat and Plaque 

6.1. Following the Foundation’s receipt of the Donation Fee, the Foundation will: 
a) install a bench in the Area chosen by You; and  
b) install one (1) dedication Plaque on that seat in a size determined at the Foundation’s sole discretion and with an inscription approved by the Foundation in accordance with Clause 6 of these Terms and Conditions. 

6.2. The Foundation will endeavour to install the bench and Plaque within 8 weeks from the Commencing Date. 

7. Foundation’s Rights Relating to the Plaque, Inscription, Maintenance, and Removal 

7.1. You must submit to the Foundation Your proposed wording to be inscribed on the Plaque for the Foundation’s approval, subject to Clause 7 of these Terms and Conditions. 

7.2. You must indemnify the Foundation and keep it indemnified from and against all Claims arising out of or as a result of the Plaque. 

7.3. The Foundation will not unreasonably withhold its consent to Your proposed wording if it:  
a) is less than 4 lines maximum, with 35 characters per line; 
b) is of a celebratory or memorial nature;  
 
c) is factual in content; 
d) is not derogatory or defamatory to another person or group; 
e) includes only two (2) dates of significance; and  
f) states the name of a person, living or deceased, who, in the Foundation’s sole discretion, has a good reputation and is not the subject of controversy. 

7.4. When making Your application to the Foundation, You must provide the Foundation with a short summary of the background and purpose of Your proposed inscription on the Plaque as requested in Items 14 and 15 of the Seat Dedication Donation page. The Foundation reserves the right to request further information regarding Your proposed inscription. 

7.5. The Foundation may (in its absolute discretion) decline any inscription proposed by You. 

7.6. The Foundation may remove the Plaque without prior notice to You at any point during the term of this agreement if the Foundation considers (in its absolute discretion) the Plaque is no longer in the best interest of RBGV or the public. 

7.7. You acknowledge and agree that if the Plaque is removed by the Foundation because of a breach of this agreement, the Donation Fee (or part of) will be forfeited. 

7.8. If Your Plaque contains any text that is not in English, You are required to provide a certified translation, at Your cost. 

7.9. The Foundation will arrange for the inscribing of the approved wording on the Plaque and installation of the plaque on the Seat. 

7.10. You acknowledge that You do not have the right to place or install any plaque that has not been approved by the Foundation. 

7.11. You acknowledge that the Plaque remains the property of the Foundation, until it is returned to You, subject to Clause 9. 

7.12. Donors with seats prior to December 2002 are liable for all maintenance costs associated with the Plaque and are liable to pay for a replacement Plaque should the Plaque need replacing, even in the case of wear and tear, unintentional damage, vandalism and/or theft or if the inscription breaches this Clause 6. 

7.13. You warrant that Your proposed inscription is not defamatory, derogatory, or contentious in nature, or the subject of any claim by any person. 

8. Foundation’s Rights Relating to the Seat 

8.1. You acknowledge that, at all times, the seat remains the property of the Foundation until the end of its tenure. 

8.2. Despite any other clause in these Terms and Conditions, You acknowledge that during the Dedication Period, the Foundation and/or visitors may move the seat to one or more different locations in the Garden or may remove the seat entirely due to landscape needs, events or safety concerns. 

8.3. If the Foundation moves the seat in accordance with Clause 7.2, the Foundation will use reasonable endeavours to notify You (using the contact details provided by You in Item 1 of the Seat Dedication Donation page), to advise You of the new location of the seat. 

9. Maintenance of Seat 

9.1. Subject to Clauses 9.2 and 9.3, You acknowledge that during the Dedication Period, the Foundation will leave the bench to age naturally. 

9.2. At any time during the Dedication Period, You may request the Foundation to conduct maintenance on the seat for a fee to be determined by the Foundation, acting reasonably and taking into consideration the condition of the bench at the time of the request (Maintenance Fee). The Maintenance Fee is not tax deductible. 

9.3. If the seat is damaged or destroyed during the Dedication Period, other than due to fair wear and tear, the Foundation will repair or replace the seat at the Foundation’s cost. 

10. End of Dedication Period 

10.1. Your rights under this agreement will come to an end at the expiry of the Dedication Period. 

10.2. After the Dedication Period ends, the Foundation will dispose of the Plaque and seat unless you notify the Foundation beforehand that you would like the Plaque mailed to you or wish to purchase the seat—with the Plaque attached—for a small fee, for use outside the Gardens. 

10.3. If the Foundation exercises its right to terminate this agreement, the Plaque will not be returned to You. 

11. Dedication Renewal 

11.1. You will be notified whether You would like to renew Your dedication for a further term. You will need to respond no later than 2 months after notification, or the option for renewal will not be available to You.  

11.2. If You notify the Foundation in accordance with Clause 10.1:  
a) the duration and terms and conditions of the agreement for the further term will be determined at the Foundation’s sole discretion; and  
b) the Foundation will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the Plaque remains on the same bench as it was located at the time of Your notification under Clause 10.1. 

11.3. If the Foundation exercises its right to terminate this agreement, the Dedication Period will cease and the option for renewal will not be available to You. 

12. Contact Details and Notices 

12.1. The Foundation will send all notices and other communications relating to these Terms and Conditions to the email identified in Item 4 of the Seat Dedication Donation page. 

12.2. If Your contact details change at any time throughout the Dedication Period, You must provide the Foundation with updated contact details to ensure that the Foundation is able to contact You. 

12.3. You must send all notices and other communications pursuant to these Terms and Conditions to the email or postal address specified in the Foundation Notice Details. 

13. Privacy 

13.1. Any capitalised terms in this Clause 12 have the same meaning that they are given in the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (PDP Act). 

13.2. Your Personal Information is dealt with by the Foundation pursuant to the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic) (PDP Act), which is contained in the following link: https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/privacy-and-data-protection-act-2014/028 

14. Variations 

14.1 The Foundation may from time to time vary the Terms and Conditions by publishing an updated version on the RBGV website. You acknowledge that the Foundation is not required to provide notice to You of any change to the Terms and Conditions. 

14.2 The Foundation reserves the right to amend Donation amounts and Donation Periods at its discretion.