The System Garden is a special space. Originally laid out in 1856 by Professor Frederick McCoy and Edward LaTrobe Bateman, it is a botanic garden for learning. It is one of only a few ‘System’ gardens around the world  - gardens which provide a living display of the different plant groups (sub-classes) that make up the plant kingdom. The garden has been continually changed over the last 160 years but it still retains its original function as a System garden. It is rated to be of ‘local’ heritage significance (Lovell chen 2011), this means that other than the significant trees and the conservatory tower it receives no heritage protection. A lack of strategic direction coupled with pressure for space within the campus has resulted in a continual reduction in the size of the garden since establishment. In 2017 a further 300m2 of garden was lost to the new WEBS building, creating a backlash from students and the public and undermining the quality of the garden. Glas Landscape Architects masterplan provides a 10 year masterplan to help re-establish the System garden as a cherished and valuable space within the Parkville campus.