Australian Governor-General Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC has paid a special visit to Singapore's Gardens by the Bay where she unveiled a plaque marking the permanency of Toowoomba's Genestreaming Journey sculpture in the Outdoor Gardens of the world-renowned attraction.
The three metre-tall Genestreaming Journey Sculpture is a gift from Toowoomba to Gardens by the Bay and was part of Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers' floral display at the Flower Dome from September to November 2024.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said it was a terrific outcome to have a permanent display promoting the Toowoomba Region at one of the world's premier tourist attractions.
"I'm delighted that Governor-General Mostyn was on hand in Singapore this week to unveil a plaque marking the permanency of the Genestreaming Journey sculpture which was part of our Carnival of Flowers display in the Flower Dome last year.
"People from all over the world passed through our unique Australia-themed display last year and now the Genestreaming Sculpture will become a permanent reminder of Toowoomba's special relationship with Gardens by the Bay and more broadly Australia's special relationship with Singapore," Mayor McDonald said.
"This is a tremendous legacy of our involvement with the Carnival of Flowers display last year and I sincerely thank Governor-General Mostyn and everyone at Gardens by the Bay for the way they have helped put the Toowoomba Region on the world map," he said.
The Genestreaming Journey sculpture is a giant evolutionary tree highlighting deep time connections between species over millions of years. Shaped like a budding flower, it features First Nations art on the inside and naturalist art on the outside.
It is a collaboration between artists Ben Beeton and Mali Moir, Toowoomba First Nations artists and engineers. These sculptures are a nationwide initiative in Australia which celebrate First Nations culture, scientific discoveries, and conservation.
This is the first time that a Genestreaming Journey Sculpture has been displayed beyond Australian shores. It symbolises the friendship between Singapore and Australia.
Local Toowoomba Region business, Mort and Co, was the major sponsor who helped ensure the sculpture was part of the display in Singapore.
Since opening, Gardens by the Bay has welcomed more than 100 million visitors and garnered numerous international accolades including Tripadvisor Traveler's Choice Awards Best of the Best 2025 for Cloud Forest, Top Nightlife Attraction in the World in Trip.com's 2025 Trip.Best Global Rankings, Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2024, and Best Theme Attraction at TTG Travel Awards 2022 and 2023. The Gardens continues to refresh and refine its offerings, to be a place that everyone can enjoy - a garden where wonder blooms.
Main photo caption: Australian Governor-General Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC unveiled a plaque of Toowoomba's Genestreaming Journey sculpture at the Outdoor Gardens of Singapore's Gardens by the Bay this week. She was accompanied by (from left) Singapore's High Commissioner to Australia His Excellency Anil Kumar Nayar, Gardens by the Bay's Principal Horticulturist Anton Steven Van Der Schans, Gardens by the Bay CEO Felix Loh, and Australia's High Commissioner to Singapore His Excellency Allaster Cox.
Photo credits: Gardens by the Bay.
