FOUNDATION:
The development of a Regional Herbarium at Charles Sturt University’s award winning Environmental Campus in Thurgoona was proposed in 1996. An Australian Research Council Grant was secured to purchase necessary infrastructure for the establishment of herbarium infrastructure and a virtual (on-line) herbarium. CSU provided a purpose-built herbarium building. The facilities were opened in 1999.

FUNCTIONS:
The Herbarium aims to advance the understanding and sound management of the flora of the Upper Murray and Murrumbidgee region by providing a reference collection and on-line data for researchers, land managers, students and community groups.

Virtual Herbarium provides:
On-line specimens
Gynoecium - a giude to flora structure
Leaves - a guide to leaf structure
On-line Grasses Guide
On-line Mistletoe Guide
Interactive Riverina Vegetation Guide
Interactive SWS Revegetation Guide

Mainly higher plants

Primary emphasis is on collecting a reference collection for the Upper Murray and Murrumbidgee region. The collection also contains specimens from the Sutherland Collection (originally housed at CSU’s Wagga Campus) which are mostly from NSW.