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The original layout for the gardens was designed by Stuart Murray, a local engineer who went on to achieve prominence in designing the State's irrigation systems. He won a prize of £15 in March 1861 for his design "Nature and Art", one of four plans submitted in response to a competition run by the council. This plan has been lost and there is no evidence that it was actually implemented: council dithered over the costs and the extent to which they would proceed with the paths and planting of trees. Indeed, in April 1861 it was recommended that a portion of the gardens be fenced off and planted with potatoes. A newspaper article of 23 May 1885 states that the gardens were designed by Edward Latrobe Bateman, who designed many gardens in and around Victoria. There is no evidence to support this; neither is the any evidence to show that the gardens were designed by Ferdinand von Mueller, curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne (as claimed in a newspaper article of 1962 and in a recent guide to the gardens). The first known map of the gardens, showing extensive paths (mostly gravel at that time), is the 1937 Kyneton Sewerage Authority map. |
Detail from 1937 Kyneton Sewerage Authority map
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One of the first events in the garden was the planting of three trees (an oak, a pine and an ash) at a ceremony on 19 May 1863 to commemorate the wedding of Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra (the oak, dedicated to Queen Victoria and planted by Councillor Jarrett, is still there). Various grants were obtained to buy and plant trees and shrubs. However, the early development of the gardens got off to a poor start and between 1864 and 1867 there were complaints that the gardens were a " weedy waste", showing " shocking neglect", being ravaged by goats despite a grant of 1864 being spent on a fence. The main landscaping of the gardens is said to have taken place in 1866. Further planting took place in the early 1870s, with sizeable grants being obtained for tree planting, as well as shrubs and trees being obtained from Ferdinand von Mueller (Mueller supplied many of Victoria's regional botanic gardens with seeds and plants). From the 1870s and for about 20 years, the area currently occupied by caravans was used as a trial area by the State Nursery, Macedon, resulting in closely planted trees. A bluestone wall was built in June 1880 along Mollison St., while a document dated 18 July 1880 states that the gardens were surrounded by a substantial picket fence with an inner live fence of hawthorns. From this time on, the gardens were used repeatedly for functions and gatherings, indicating that they were now in good order (though complaints in 1883 were made of swagmen camping under the Mollison St. bridge, washing their clothes in the water, and " indulging in ever more objectionable practices by which the water is defiled"). An etching from 1888 and photographs taken from the 1890s to the mid-20th century show that the gardens contained extensive beds of annuals, perennials and small shrubs, in contrast to the current predominance of trees. A proposal for a fountain was made in June 1897, but after heated debate in council this never proceeded. From around 1868 the gardens had a curator and at least part-time assistants to look after them. On Edward VII's Coronation Day, 9 August 1902, the shire President, William Thomson, planted an English Oak ( Quercus robur): several other commemorative trees have been planted since. |
Fern Gully around 1905 |
A drinking fountain was also erected in 1902, using £60 left for this purpose by Isaac Smith, a Spring Hill farmer who died on 10 October 1900. The fountain survives to this day, though having been repaired extensively after vandalism. A rotunda was built sometime before 1905 (this has been repaired extensively and rebuilt at least twice, most recently in 1988). A fernery and fountain were proposed by Mr Ferguson (from the State Nursery, Macedon) in May 1885, to be sited in the south-east corner, close to the Campaspe river; he also proposed a new entrance and gate on Mollison St. close to the river. Photographs from 1906 show a well-developed fern gully, which had become overgrown by the 1980s (when it was restored). |
Isaac Smith Drinking Fountain
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As the gardens became more popular, facilities for the public were added. Swings and a see-saw were installed in 1889 (at that time the gardens were not open on Sundays), along with a new gate suitable for entry of people with prams. Public toilets were also added (replaced by the present toilets in 1952). A rose bed and arch, paid for by the Women's Work Exhibition, were presented to the council on 27 May 1907. In July 1922, E. E. Prescott (director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens) spoke highly of the "arboreal wealth" of the Kyneton botanic gardens. A fish hatchery (used up to 1968 but no longer in existence) was built in the gardens in July 1925, close to the Clowes St. boundary and to the east of the current barbecue. The curator, Mr Gray, listed a number of old roses being grown in the gardens in 1930. Memorial gates were erected at the north-east corner in 1936 courtesy of the Elliott family , and a memorial rose bed (recently removed) was constructed by Kyneton Horticultural Society in memory of Alister Clark, a rose breeder from Bulla. At one time there was a lily pond in the gardens, but this was demolished. In March 1941, dying or dangerous pines were felled in the gardens, with the money from the sale of wood being used to construct a new playground. |
The current gardens are larger than they once were. In September 1867 the council applied for a triangular area bounded to the west by Powlett St, to the north by Pohlman St and running along the Campaspe, for public baths. An area of 2 acres was termporarily reserved for this purpose in July 1869. A further 3 acres 2 roods was reserved in 1884 for public recreation (the council had already taken over the site as a road metal depot!). These reservations were revoked in January 1902 and together the area of 5 acres 2 roods was temporarily reserved as public gardens. A request for the closure of the end of Powlett St was approved in march 1903. |
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Two threats to the gardens occurred after the second world war. The first was a plan to construct a swimming pool in the gardens, announced in 1946. After much public resistance, the pool was built on the other side of Mollison St. However, a proposal in 1959 to site a caravan park in the gardens was approved, despite strong public opposition. In order to make this possible, council successfully petitioned the State government to revoke the reservation of the original 18 acres 1 rood and the additional 5 acres 2 roods as public gardens in January 1961. The closure of the end of Powlett St was again approved. The combined area of about 24 acres was then temporarily reserved for "public gardens, recreation and tourist camping". This remains a highly contentious issue, especially since some caravans became used as permanent residences. Paved roads were put through the gardens in 1969 as part of the caravan park modifications, terraces were added as camping sites and a house was built just inside the Ebden St. entrance for a caretaker. A building was also build for toilets and cleaning facilities for campers.
Over the years, the gardens have been the scene of many activities: a range of civic events; concerts; picnics; weddings; a police chase (in 1984); vandalism (repeatedly); dog shows; and pruning demonstrations. The ceremony for the connection of gas to the town in 1981 was held at the botanic gardens (the tap is just outside the main entrance). More amorous events have also taken place: on a Sunday evening in 1903, for example, Constables Deans and Ruedi made an appearance in the gardens and politely reminded couples of the fact that the gardens were not open to the public after dark. The Kyneton Guardian reported that "it was not long before an extended string of sweethearts disconcertedly departed from the gardens".
In 1985, State 150th anniversary funding was provided for extensive arboricultural work in the gardens, planting of new trees and for the renovation of the fernery (unfortunately this has again lapsed into disrepair). A concept plan was also drawn up, including various new gardens features (such as beds in the shape of a daffodil); the plans were never adopted. In recent years, new information boards and signs displaying the gardens' new daffodil and oak leaf logo have been put up, and beds have been planted with new well-labelled shrubs. |
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