The System Garden was originally established in 1856 by Professor Frederick McCoy for use by botany students. The garden is now only a quarter of its original size due to building encroachment in the Parkville Campus. Within the System Garden there are representatives from all major land plant groups, including mosses, ferns, cycads, conifers and continuing on to all the angiosperms (flowering plants).
The System Garden (1856-), [UMA-PL-000000506]. University of Melbourne Archives, accessed 15/02/2025, https://archives.library.unimelb.edu.au/nodes/view/524350