Treasury Gardens
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2007) |
Treasury Gardens | |
---|---|
Drinking Fountains , Seating | |
Australian National Heritage List | |
Type | Historic |
Designated | 21 October 1980 |
Reference no. | 100641 |
Type | State Registered Place |
Designated | 11 December 2003 |
Reference no. | H1887[1] |
Heritage Overlay number | HO917 [1] |
The Treasury Gardens consist of 5.8 hectares (14 acres) on the south-eastern side of the
Description
The Gardens are a short walk from Victoria’s Parliament House and are overlooked by the Old Treasury Building and State Offices. They create a landscaped setting for office workers to enjoy during lunch with large areas of lawn and walking paths lined with mature trees. Due to their central location in the city, they are a popular spot as the starting or ending point for political rallies, demonstrations and festivals. The gardens are also enjoyed by business people and tourists staying at the Hilton Hotel on Wellington Parade, who are able to wander through on their way to the business district.[citation needed]
The Victorian heritage listing says "Fitzroy is unique in comparison for its scale and uninterrupted landscape. There are some horticultural similarities between Fitzroy and the Treasury Garden, attributed to the initial work of Clement Hodgkinson, however Fitzroy Gardens is unique due to the layering of history and mosaic of different landscaping styles. The avenues of mature elms and Moreton Bay fig are some of the best tree lined avenues in Victoria".[2]
Mature tree species include
The gardens contain an ornamental pond and a number of memorials:[citation needed]
- Sir William John ClarkeMemorial. Marble bust, circa 1902, located by the Treasury building. Erected by public subscription and unveiled by the Governor of Victoria on 22 July 1902.
- Robert Burns Memorial. Bronze replica sculpture by G.A. Lawson of an original erected in the poet's birthplace of Alloway in Scotland. Commissioned by the Caledonian Society in Melbourne, and first erected on St Kilda Road in 1904, and moved to the Treasury Gardens in 1970 due to roadworks.
- President Raymond B. Ewers. Erected in 1965 and located beside the specially landscaped pond and water fountain.
Timeline]
- 1850s - The area of the gardens was left as open space after failure to sell allotments due to the swampy nature of the land.
- 1867 - Clement Hodgkinson designed the Gardens as a pattern of diagonally crossing paths lined with trees. Willow trees were planted around an ornamental pond.
- 1902 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne transforms the ornamental pond into a Japanese Garden. This garden is demolished after the Second World War.
- 1929 - management of the Gardens was transferred to the City of Melbourne.
- 1934 - Treasury Gardens was used by the community to celebrate Victoria’s centenary.
- 1939 - Toilet block built for the Spring Carnival and floral festival. Acknowledged as being of architectural importance for its uncommon art deco design, decorative pattern brick and tile construction and extensive use of wrought iron detailing, including grills, gates, lamps, signs and brick planter, exhibiting outstanding craftsmanship.
- 1965 - Monument was erected to the American president, John F Kennedy.
- 1996 - Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens Master Plan was adopted by Council.
- 2019 - Approximately 150,000 people gathered in the Treasury Gardens for the 20th of September Global Climate Strike.
Events
The Share the Spirit Festival, created by Songlines Aboriginal Music in 2003, is held on
References
- ^ Government of Victoria. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Treasury Gardens, Victorian Heritage Register (VHR) Number H1887, Heritage Overlay HO917". Victorian Heritage Database. Heritage Victoria. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ "Share the Spirit Festival". Songlines Aboriginal Music. Retrieved 22 April 2021.