Archive of Maps and Aerial Photographs
Map (c. 1858) showing the proposed diversion of Bendigo Creek through a channel, effectively reducing the flow of water into the Botanic Gardens. Like many similar early maps, it also shows dotted lines across a meander resulting in an island. Reproduced from the report by the Gerner Consulting Group in 1993.
Final area assigned to the Botanic Gardens. When surveyed by Larritt and Russell in 1854, the area above the creek was not included. Shows the existing vegetation as wattles and rushes. It also shows dotted lines across a meander where an island was later formed. Source: DSE reserve file 4855.
Tracing accompanying a letter from R. Larritt, District Surveyor, in 1858 showing the extension of the Botanic Gardens Reserve due to difficulties in defining the changing position of the creek. Source: DSE Reserve File 4855.
Plan of Reserve for Botanic Garden, attached to a letter from George Hitchins, Town Clerk, Sandhurst (now Bendigo) 1858. Also shows options for diverting the flow of Bendigo Creek. Source: DSE Reserve File 4855.
Plan from a notebook, dated 1877 - the period when Samuel Gadd was Curator of the three major parks in Bendigo. It is believed to have been drawn by him for the council's Parks Committee to estimate a new irrigation scheme. Source: copied by the Friends of Bendigo's Botanic Gardens from the City of Bendigo archives, Goldfields Research Centre, Bendigo.
Plan of Bendigo, signed 1909, showing the locations of the Acclimatization Reserve and the Botanic Gardens. Note that Bendigo Creek, which runs between the two, has been made almost straight (compare with maps from the 1850s). Source: City Archives.
Map of the acclimatization reserve (and part of the botanic gardens), dated 1930.
Plan of part of the Gardens, produced from an aerial photo dated 1947. Source: GernerConsulting Group Report.
Plan of the Gardens in 1955, accompanying a request for a site in the gardens for a swimming pool. Source: DSE Reserve File 4855.
Aerial photo of the Gardens in 1956. Note at top right the forked path leading from the entrance and going either side of the curator's residence. Also the absence of the swimming pool. Source: Land Victoria, reference Vic 1138- 151, Run 14
Aerial photograph of the Gardens in 1970. Note the curator's house and double path leading from the Arch of Triumph in the top right corner. Also the diamond-shaped car park and the smaller number of trees, particularly on the right half of the Gardens. Source Land Victoria, Run 4 No. 39.
Botanic Gardens feature survey, 1992. Note the diamond-shaped car park and two paths coming from the Arch of Triumph, but there is no longer the curator's house. There is also a car park at the northeast side of the lagoon. Also no island is shown in the lagoon. Source: Friends of Bendigo's Botanic Gardens archive.
Plan to develop the Botanic Gardens as part of a larger area in White Hills. Source: Gerner Consulting Group report.
Master Plan for the Botanic Gardens and surrounding lands, prepared for City of Greater Bendigo Council by Gerner Consulting Group, 1993. This plan has not been implemented. Source: City of Greater Bendigo.
Closer view of the part of the Gerner masterplan, covering the area of the existing Botanic Gardens.
Gardens layout in 1993, at the time of the masterplan produced by the Gerner Consulting Group.
Masterplan for the Botanic Gardens and surrounding lands, prepared for City of Greater Bendigo by TBA Planners Pty Ltd, 1998. This plan has not been implemented. Source: City of Greater Bendigo.
Aerial photo, around 2001-02, showing the new single path from the entrance to a circular path around a mound. The work required the removal of flower beds and trees. The route of the old path can still be seen in the dry grass, parallel to the road. Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens Archives.
Plan around 2002, showing general layout and trees. Source: Friends of Bendigo Botanic Gardens archives.
Planting scheme for the island in the lagoon, produced by the Friends of Bendigo's Botanic Gardens in 2005.
Aerial photo of the Gardens, July 2005. Note that the avenue of pencil pines can now be seen along the main avenue from the Arch of Triumph. Source: City of Greater Bendigo.
Conditions Plan of the Gardens in 2006. Source: Lee Andrews & Associates Heritage Significance Assessment and Strategy - White Hills Botanic Gardens.
Plan from Heritage Victoria web site, May 2008: statement of significance in the Victorian Heritage Register.
Botanic Gardens, looking approximately north. Source: Google Earth, January 2008.
Satellite photograph of the Botanic Gardens. Source: Google Earth, January 2008.
Botanic Gardens, looking approximately sourth. Source: Google Earth, January 2008.