The History Group enthusiastically coordinated by Lorraine Powell undertakes research into the history of the Gardens. A major project which has involved members for many years is the extraction of references to the gardens primarily from Ballarat City Council correspondence files which are housed at the Ballarat Archives Centre of the Public Record Office Victoria, but also from newspapers and resources held by the Ballarat Historical Society at the Gold Museum. This primary research material is being collated to form the basis of a major work on the history of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens to be published in 2012. In the meantime there is much sharing of information with the Guiding Friends.

Several major collections of documents, photos and books have generously been donated to the Friends. These include material from the late Roy Mosman, first historian of the Friends, and the late Jessie Scott, first female mayor of Ballarat who did much to enhance Ballarat's reputation as the 'Garden City'. In 2008 about 500 horticultural books were bequeathed to the Friends by the late Mr Jeffrey Bunn. These have been shelved in the George Longley Building where acquisitions are being catalogued and computerised by a team dedicated to the task.

The electronic preparation of historical panels for displays in the Conservatory, a series of interviews (on video) with old identities associated with the Gardens, powerpoint presentations of historic photos of the Gardens and the production of an educational DVD on the Gardens and Lake Wendouree are among the notable achievements for this group.
Meetings are held in the George Longley Building on the first Tuesday of the month at 4.30pm.

In 2007 the 150th Anniversary of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens was celebrated with special events and displays.