George Althofer

George William Francis Althofer (1903–1993) was an Australian botanist, nurseryman, author, and poet with a particular interest in the mint-bush genus Prostanthera and other native plants. Born at Dripstone in Central West New South Wales, he attended local schools before working on his father's farm and orchard, eventually becoming an orchardist himself. In 1938, Althofer established the Nindethana Nursery at his property near Dripstone. Inspired by the Arnold Arboretum, he campaigned for a similar institution focused on Australian native plants, leading to the establishment of the Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum in 1964. This 167-hectare site near Wellington was developed with the assistance of his brother Peter.

Althofer authored numerous publications, including books on botany, local history, and poetry. His works include *The Road to Burrendong and Other Verses* (1936), *Cradle of Incense: The Story of Australian Prostanthera* (1978), and *The Collected Poems of G.W. Althofer* (1992). He also wrote about drought-resistant trees and the flora of specific regions like Mt. Arthur Reserve. His contributions to botany and local history remain significant, particularly in the study and promotion of Australian native plants.