Hansine Hansen`s Farm-site

The Botanical garden in Tromsø is situated on the grounds of an old farm, Southern Breivika. The last owner of the farm, Ms. Hansine Hansen, donated parts of the farm to educational purpose in 1938. The remaining parts of the farm were given to the County of Troms upon her death in 1947. Large parts of the University of Tromsø, as well as Breivika High School, is located on this property.

Old house for Hansine Hansens farm

The farmhouses were gone when the University moved in around 1980, but the remains of the foundations were visible in the lower part of the Botanic garden. Hansine Hansen`s farm is now partly reconstructed. An old house from downtown Tromsø was moved to the site of the main house, and was refurbished in the old style in 2002. It now has meeting rooms for the University and serves as a meeting place for Friends of the Botanic garden in Tromsø. During summer time the house is open to the public in the middle of the day. We are selling coffee, snacks, books and some souvenirs The foundations of a smaller house can be seen in the collection of the traditional ornamental plants. In the spring of 2004 the service building for the garden staff was erected on the site of the former barn of Hansine Hansens farm. Presently Hansine Hansen`s Farm serves to remind us of the roots of the University and the Arctic-alpine botanic garden. The “barn” now is the staff building of the Garden. It has offices, store-rooms, work-rooms and lunch- and meeting room, as well as facilities for the staff. Here is also a toilet for visitors to the garden.