The City Botanic Gardens officially opened in 1855. The main objectives of the gardens included:
- trialing crops and plants from around the world to determine their suitability for growing in subtropical climates
- introducing mangoes, pineapples, pawpaws, custard apples, sugar cane, tobacco, ginger, coffee and many types of nuts and grape vines to Queensland
- establishing ornamental plant collections in the gardens for visitors to enjoy