Dixon, Robert (Bob)   (fl. 1970s - 2000s)

He was Horticultural advisor, Biodiversity Manager, for Kings Park botanic gardens, Perth, WA from 1978 to 2014.

As a long-serving staff member, he was appointed as the Horticultural Advisory Officer role in 1978 and provided information to the general public on the culture of native plants.

He was also involved in a wide range of management and conservation programs in Kings Park and on rare native species across the southwest of Western Australia. He co-ordinated The Kings Park Bushland Management Plan 1995-2000, a natural heritage assessment of Kings Park, fire records in Kings Park and published long-term work on the eradication of Veld Grass, Buffel Grass and Bridal Creeper with a particular interest on selective herbicides that do not affect native species.

He conducted extensive work on the conservation of the threatened Grevillea scapigera and several other rare species that have been translocated back into the wild, often in collaboration with mining companies.

He has contributed his time generously to the wider community, sharing his knowledge, participating in bushcare projects and working as a volunteer in the management of Brixton Street Wetland, a threatened plant community in Perth.

As an effective communicator, he has written and published many articles on threatened species and weed management and contributed to a number of research papers. His lectures have been presented to a wide range of professional and community audiences and covered many topics.


NOTE - not to be confused with research botanist Dr Kingsley Dixon, also associated with Kings Park.
AVH searches on "Dixon, R." bring up many marine collections made by 'Dixon, R.R.M.', this is Rainbo Dixon, a phycologist.

Source: Extracted from:
Barratt, Russell, 'Half a Century of Botanical Research and Discovery in Western Australia by Kings Park and Botanic Garden',
J. Zool. Bot. Gard. , 2026, 7, 15
https://anpsa.org.au/australian-plants-awards-2009/
Portrait Photo: 2009, https://anpsa.org.au/australian-plants-awards-2009/