Darling Gardens
off Gold Street, CLIFTON HILL VIC 3068 - Property No 131795
Clifton Hill Eastern Precinct
-
Add to tour
You must log in to do that.
-
Share
-
Shortlist place
You must log in to do that.
- Download report
Statement of Significance
The following wording is from the John Patrick Landscape Citation, 1998 for the property. Please note that this is a "Landscape Citation", not a "Statement of Significance". For further information refer to theLandscape Citation held by the City of Yarra.
Landscape Citation, 1998
Description
The Darling Gardens is a large suburban park which was temporarily reserved for public use in 1863. Von Mueller, Director the Botanic Gardens, supplied seed, plants and offered recommendations for the laying of the site. The site was leased at various stages in the 1860s and 1870s for grazing purposes, and used for the dumping of night soil, which was 'deodorised' with coal tar. The gardens were intitially fenced by a three rail timber fence. It was not until the 1890s that the gardens were laid out in earnest, with the construction of picket fencing, a grotto in the southeast corner and widespread planting of trees, particularly elms and oaks. By 1897, the gardens featured 'artistically arranged beds... gay with zinnias and chrysanthemums, but later blooms are now taking their place'. The trees along Hoddle Street frontage were also planted at this time. The park was a focus for the local community, used for band recitals, as well as fetes and sporting activities. In 1907, a community tree planting day effectively ended associations of the park with active recreation. A bandstand was constructed in the centre of the park in 1906. The infant welfare centre was built in the south-east section of the site in 1956, and extended in 1966.
Remnant Fabric (Man Made)
The park is bisected by two diagonal asphalt paths with a basalt edge. A rotunda is located centrally within the park, and is a reconstruction of that built in 1906. A rendered brick substation, constructed in 1911, is located in the north-east corner of the park.
Remnant Fabric (Vegetation)
The site is dominated by mature, decidious trees, namely Elms (Ulmus procera and Ulmus x hollandica) planted along pathways and boundaries. Specimen trees include Plane Trees (Platanus x acerfolius), Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) and Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis). More unusual trees include a mature Jelly Palm (Butia capitata) and Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) as well as two trees recorded by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), and English Elm (Ulmus procera) and Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), both located in the south west section of the gardens. An arc-shaped planting of elms in the western section of the park shows the alignment of an early ornamental walk within the park, which has since been removed.
Statement of Significance
Darling Gardens are locally significant as an early and important recreational facility within the Collingwood and Clifton Hill area. The site has strong associations with the local community, at various times the home to sporting groups and the focus of community activities. The site effectively illustrates its ongoing development since the 1860s, and contains two trees recorded on the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Significant Tree Register.
-
-
Darling Gardens - Physical Description 1
Remnant Fabric (Man Made)
The park is bisected by two diagonal asphalt paths with a basalt edge. A rotunda is located centrally within the park, and is a reconstruction of that built in 1906. A rendered brick substation, constructed in 1911, is located on the north-east corner of the park.
Remnant Fabric (Vegetation)
The site is dominated by mature, deciduous trees, namely Elms (`Ulmus procera' and `U. x hollandica') planted along pathways and boundaries. Specimen trees include Plane Trees (`Platanus x acerifolius'), Monterey Pine (`Pinus radiata'), Silky Oak (`Grevillea robusta') and Canary Island Date Palm (`Phoenix
canariensis'). More unusual trees include a mature Jelly Palm (`Butia capitata') and Fan Palm (`Washingtonia filifera') as well as two trees recorded by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), an English Elm (`Ulmus procera') and Holm Oak (`Quercus ilex'), both located in the south-west section of the gardens. An arc-shaped planting of elms in the western section of the park shows the alignment of an early ornamental walk within the park, which has since been removed.
Potential Threats
The eastern boundary of the gardens features more modern plantings including various native trees, and Camphor Laurel (`Cinnamomum camphora'), all of which are inappropriate to the character of the park. Additional plantings of this style will further erode the heritage character of the place.
Management Steps
A conservation study has been undertaken for Darling Gardens, entitled Darling Gardens Cultural Significance and Conservation Policies, prepared by Nigel Lewis Richard Aitken Pty Ltd in 1993. The report contains policies for the ongoing conservation of the site, and should be implemented.Darling Gardens - Integrity
Good
Heritage Study and Grading
Yarra - City of Collingwood Conservation Study
Author: Andrew Ward & Associates
Year: 1989
Grading: ContributoryYarra - City of Collingwood Conservation Study
Author: Andrew Ward & Associates
Year: 1995
Grading:Yarra - City of Yarra Heritage Review
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates
Year: 1998
Grading:Yarra - City of Yarra Review of Heritage Overlay Areas
Author: Graeme Butler & Associates
Year: 2007
Grading: Local
-
-
-
-
-
DIGHTS MILL SITEVictorian Heritage Register H1522
-
CLIFTON HILL RAILWAY STATION COMPLEXVictorian Heritage Register H1668
-
SHOT TOWERVictorian Heritage Register H0709
-
"1890"Yarra City
-
"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
-
"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
-
'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
-
1 Alexander StreetYarra City
-
1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
-
-