Hamilton Gardens site rules and garden protection requirements

To help keep everyone safe and protect the Gardens, all visitors, contractors, event organisers, exhibitors, and site users must follow these requirements while on site.

These requirements will be applied reasonably and proportionately, having regard to public safety, access, protection of the Gardens, and the rights and interests of visitors and other site users.

1. Keep pathways clear
   Major pathways and access routes must always remain clear of obstructions.

A minimum clear width of 3.5 metres must be maintained on pathways to allow safe public, service, and emergency access.

Groups of people, equipment, vehicles, materials, displays, signs, temporary structures, and other items must not obstruct pathways or reduce the available width below 3.5 metres where this is needed to maintain safe public, service, or emergency access.

Emergency exits, evacuation routes, and access points must remain unobstructed.

1. Respect garden infrastructure and vegetation
   Please do not attach, tie, nail, screw, staple, strap, or otherwise secure anything to garden infrastructure or vegetation.

This includes buildings, fences, walls, railings, lighting, signage, sculptures, umbrellas, trees, shrubs, and other plants.

If you believe an attachment point is required, please discuss this with Hamilton Gardens staff before installation.

1. Stay out of garden beds and planted areas
   Garden beds and planted areas are not to be entered unless prior approval has been given by Hamilton Gardens staff.

Equipment, materials, vehicles, and temporary structures must not be placed within garden beds or planted areas.

1. Protect plants and landscape features
   Please take care to avoid damage to any plants, trees, shrubs, lawns, or other vegetation.

Cutting, pruning, trimming, picking, removing, or otherwise damaging plants is not permitted without prior approval.

Any accidental damage should be reported to Hamilton Gardens staff as soon as possible.

1. Dogs on site
   Dogs are welcome but must be kept under effective control at all times.

Dogs may only be off lead in designated off-lead areas. These areas are Coxhead flat, the lawn above Hungerford Crescent, and Hillside Lawn outside business hours. More information for dog exercise areas can be found here.

Dogs are not allowed in the Enclosed Gardens or the Hamilton East Cemetery.

Owners are responsible for immediately picking up and properly disposing of their dog's waste.

Any dog that causes a nuisance, damages garden areas, disturbs wildlife, or behaves aggressively may be required to leave the site.

1. Non-compliance
   Hamilton Gardens staff may ask a person to relocate, remove an item, leave a planted area, or put a dog on a lead where this is reasonably necessary to maintain public safety, protect the Gardens, prevent damage, or ensure access for other visitors and emergency, service, or operational vehicles.

If a person does not comply with a reasonable direction, Council may stop the relevant activity, require the person to leave the affected area or site, issue a trespass notice where the person’s behaviour warrants it or they fail to comply with a reasonable direction to leave.

Hamilton City Council may also start proceedings to recover costs associated with repairing any damage

Please note that additional rules apply within the Enclosed Gardens. These requirements are intended to help protect the unique gardens and visitor experience. Anyone accessing the Enclosed Gardens must comply with both these requirements and the Enclosed Gardens conditions of entry found here.