The Gisborne Botanical Gardens nowadays occupy 5.1 hectares (0.051 km2) between Aberdeen Road and the Taruheru River.
In that year a recreational reserve of 2.55 hectares (0.0255 km2) was created, just outside the city boundary beside Taruheru River.
In 1978 Mr and Mrs J.B. Greig bequeathed their Cacti collection to Council.
A glass house was built in the Botanical Gardens to provide space for this collection.
The andesite boulders from Te Puke represent the mountains around Palm Desert.