41131
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens are some of the most important open spaces in Australia’s urban landscape. The 29 hectares of gardens are surrounded by 51 hectares of parkland including the Sydney Domain. They were officially recognised as a botanic garden in 1816, while only becoming ‘Royal’ in 1959. The site is one of the world’s oldest colonial botanic gardens and one of the most important botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere (only Rio de Janeiro is older).
The area attracts around 4 million people a year. As well as enjoying its natural beauty, visitors can gain an appreciation of the history of the city and the changing aesthetics of public gardens. The gardens have long hosted many of Sydney’s important cultural institutions as well as being the site for big open-air concerts and operas.
The Botanic Gardens were the site of the first government farm in the colony of New South Wales in 1788 (and called the Governor’s Farm in 1792). Governor Phillip ordered the cultivation of 20 acres in 1788, with that area part of Governor Phillip’s private reserve.
The organisation of the gardens illustrates their associations with the 18th century European scientific world of Sir Joseph Banks, Sir William Hooker, and others. They are Australia’s oldest scientific institution for botany and horticulture. In 1821 Superintendent Charles Fraser, a botanist, was appointed to develop the gardens along scientific grounds for the first time. Fraser accompanied John Oxley on his inland journeys and brought back plant specimens.
In 1825 Governor Brisbane extended the garden west of Farm Cove for an experimental garden designed to acclimatise both Australian plants for export and others being imported. Colonists were interested in ‘exotics’ and brought many of them with them to be added to the garden plant collection. In 1829 grape vines were planted. These became a foundation of the Australian wine industry.
Despite conservative opposition, in 1831 Governor Bourke opened the roads and paths for general access and by the 1850s military, sporting and ceremonial events had become common in the Domain.
Sydney’s central parklands are an historic site that has had an important role in place making in the city. Their role as a community asset as well as their part in the story of Australian nation-building are often undervalued. The memory of place, its continuity, and the changes it represents, are important in the construction of a city’s identity and its community’s sensibility.
An edited version of a piece written by Ian Willis at
camdenhistorynotes.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/sydneys-royal...
41131
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Domain and Royal Botanic Gardens are some of the most important open spaces in Australia’s urban landscape. The 29 hectares of gardens are surrounded by 51 hectares of parkland including the Sydney Domain. They were officially recognised as a botanic garden in 1816, while only becoming ‘Royal’ in 1959. The site is one of the world’s oldest colonial botanic gardens and one of the most important botanical gardens in the Southern Hemisphere (only Rio de Janeiro is older).
The area attracts around 4 million people a year. As well as enjoying its natural beauty, visitors can gain an appreciation of the history of the city and the changing aesthetics of public gardens. The gardens have long hosted many of Sydney’s important cultural institutions as well as being the site for big open-air concerts and operas.
The Botanic Gardens were the site of the first government farm in the colony of New South Wales in 1788 (and called the Governor’s Farm in 1792). Governor Phillip ordered the cultivation of 20 acres in 1788, with that area part of Governor Phillip’s private reserve.
The organisation of the gardens illustrates their associations with the 18th century European scientific world of Sir Joseph Banks, Sir William Hooker, and others. They are Australia’s oldest scientific institution for botany and horticulture. In 1821 Superintendent Charles Fraser, a botanist, was appointed to develop the gardens along scientific grounds for the first time. Fraser accompanied John Oxley on his inland journeys and brought back plant specimens.
In 1825 Governor Brisbane extended the garden west of Farm Cove for an experimental garden designed to acclimatise both Australian plants for export and others being imported. Colonists were interested in ‘exotics’ and brought many of them with them to be added to the garden plant collection. In 1829 grape vines were planted. These became a foundation of the Australian wine industry.
Despite conservative opposition, in 1831 Governor Bourke opened the roads and paths for general access and by the 1850s military, sporting and ceremonial events had become common in the Domain.
Sydney’s central parklands are an historic site that has had an important role in place making in the city. Their role as a community asset as well as their part in the story of Australian nation-building are often undervalued. The memory of place, its continuity, and the changes it represents, are important in the construction of a city’s identity and its community’s sensibility.
An edited version of a piece written by Ian Willis at
camdenhistorynotes.wordpress.com/2017/01/26/sydneys-royal...