Edinburgh Gardens, landscape & structures
578-694 Brunswick Street, FITZROY NORTH VIC 3065 - Property No 295675
North Fitzroy Precinct
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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 Edinburgh Gardens is a large park surrounded by residential development. The park contains a wide variety of active recreational facilities, as well as extensive passive recreation areas.
The site was temporarily reserved for public use in 1862, and was initially used for cricket. In 1877 a bowling club was established on the site. The site was permanently reserved as a park in two sections in 1881 and 1883. Following this, development started in earnest. Low areas were filled with garbage and manure, as well as for the disposal of night soil. A number of horses were also buried on the site. Avenues within the park were apparently developed along pedestrian wear lines through the site. A creek that ran through the park was eventually converted into an underground drain. Early features of the park included a fountain and a pond, both of which have been removed. A significant development in the history of the park was the construction of the North Fitzroy rail line in 1888, that effectively cut the park into two distinct sections. The rail line was removed in 1981.
Remnant Fabric (Man Made)
The site contains many built structures; most are associated with active recreation, and are of recent origin and low conservation significance. Of note is the prominent Peace Memorial located on the Brunswick Street frontage, erected in 1925. This Classical Revival rotunda appears to be of brick or concrete construction, finished with a cream render, and the bronze domed roof is supported by eight Doric columns. Asphalt paths throughout the park are edged in basalt. A garden bed located centrally within the park features a large pedestal that was mounted by a wooden statue of Queen Victoria. The statue is no longer in place. A path bisecting the park in a rough north south alignment follows the alignment of the now defunct railway, with a short section of rails extant near the junction of Fergie Street and Alfred Crescent.
Remnant Fabric (Vegetation)
The site is dominated by mature trees, most notably Elms (Ulmus procera and U. x hollandica) and Common Oak (Quercus robur), both of which are used extensively as avenue plantings. A notable row of Kurrajong (Br achy chiton populneus) is located along the park street frontage. Other notable specimens include Fastigiate Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Fastigiata'), Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis). A mature Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) near the Peace Memorial has been recorded on the National Trust of Australia's (Victoria) Significant Tree Register. A Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) hedge in the southern section of the park relates to the defunct railway line.
Statement of Significance
Edinburgh Gardens are locally significant as a major and early recreational facility within the Fitzroy area. The site is intrinsically linked to a number of local sporting groups and the Fitzroy community generally. It contains elements that illustrate the early use of the site, particularly the railway, and contributes significantly to the heritage character and general amenity of the local neighbourhood, particularly as a setting for adjacent significant housing which culminates in a landscape of notable grandeur within the City of Yarra. The site is also significant for the notable numbers of mature trees, one of which is recorded by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria).
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Edinburgh Gardens, landscape & structures - Physical Description 2
2 Bay Trees (Laurus nobilis)- see 1998 description: The site contains many built structures; most are associated with active recreation, and are of recent
origin and low conservation significance. Of note is the prominent Peace Memorial located on the Brunswick Street frontage, erected in 1925. This Classical Revival rotunda appears to be of brick or concrete construction, finished with a cream render, and the bronze domed roof is supported by eight
Doric columns. Asphalt paths throughout the park are edged in basalt. A garden bed located centrally within the park features a large pedestal that was mounted by a wooden statue of Queen Victoria. The statue is no longer in place. A path bisecting the park in a rough north south alignment follows the alignment of the now defunct railway, with a short section of rails extant near the junction of Fergie Street and Alfred Crescent.'Edinburgh Gardens, landscape & structures - Physical Description 1
The Edinburgh Gardens is a large park surrounded by residential development. The park contains a wide variety of active recreational facilities, as well as extensive passive recreation areas. Edinburgh Gardens falls within the North Fitzroy Precinct- see City of Yarra Heritage Review: Heritage Overlay Precincts (1998).
Remnant Fabric (Man Made)
The site contains many built structures; most are associated with active recreation, and are of recent origin and low conservation significance. Of note is the prominent Peace Memorial located on the Brunswick Street frontage, erected in 1925. This Classical Revival rotunda appears to be of brick or concrete construction, finished with a cream render, and the bronze domed roof is supported by eight Doric columns. Asphalt paths throughout the park are edged in basalt. A garden bed located centrally within the park features a large pedestal that was mounted by a wooden statue of Queen Victoria. The statue is no longer in place. A path bisecting the park in a rough north south alignment follows the alignment of the now defunct railway, with a short section of rails extant near the junction of Fergie Street and Alfred Crescent.
Remnant Fabric (Vegetation)
The site is dominated by mature trees, most notably Elms (Ulmus procera and Unusual. x hollandica) and Common Oak (Quercus robur), both of which are used extensively as avenue plantings. A notable row of Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) is located along the park street frontage. Other notable specimens include Fastigiate Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa 'Fastigiata'), Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and Bay Tree (Laurus nobilis). A mature Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) near the Peace Memorial has been recorded on the National Trust of Australia's (Victoria) Significant Tree Register. A privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium) hedge in the southern section of the park relates to the defunct railway line.
Potential Threats
The wide variety of uses of the park and the various structures associated with these uses has led to a disparate layout of the park. Further introduction of inappropriately detailed facilities would erode its heritage character. Coupled with this is the poor level of maintenance of the plant material. Recent plantings, for example around the central garden bed, are inappropriate to the character of the park.
Management Steps
Edinburgh Gardens require the preparation of a detailed conservation study to more fully identify elements of high conservation significance, and outline policies for the gardens on-going conservation. This would effectively update the report prepared by Landform Australia in 1987. A new master plan should then be prepared that would unify the various disparate elements within the park, following the policies set out in the conservation study, to ensure the parks inherent heritage character is preserved.
It would include guidelines for the management of existing plant material, replacement strategies for senescent trees and introduction of new plant material and detailing of hard landscaping features and structures.Edinburgh Gardens, landscape & structures - Integrity
Fair
Heritage Study and Grading
Yarra - North Fitzroy Conservation Study
Author: Jacobs Lewis Vines
Year: 1978
Grading: StateYarra - Fitzroy Urban Conservation Study
Author: Allom Lovell & Associates
Year: 1992
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
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1998 - Landscape Citation - City of Yarra Heritage Review
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1978 - Building Citation - North Fitzroy Conservation Study, 1978
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1998 - Landscape Citation - City of Yarra Heritage Review (Railway Reserve)
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Conservation Management Plan - Part 1, 2004
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Conservation Management Plan - Part 2, 2004
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Conservation Management Plan - Part 3, 2004
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Conservation Management Plan - Part 4, 2004
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1978 - North Fitzroy Conservation Study, 1978 - A5 Alfred Crescent Precinct
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City of Yarra Aboriginal Cultural Signage Project, 1999 - Recreation and Meeting Places
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1998 - Landscape Citation - City of Yarra Heritage Review
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FORMER CABLE TRAM ENGINE HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0718
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BRUNSWICK STREET OVAL GRANDSTANDVictorian Heritage Register H0751
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RESIDENCEVictorian Heritage Register H0163
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"1890"Yarra City
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"AMF Officers" ShedMoorabool Shire
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"AQUA PROFONDA" SIGN, FITZROY POOLVictorian Heritage Register H1687
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'CARINYA' LADSONS STOREVictorian Heritage Register H0568
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1 Alexander StreetYarra City
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1 Botherambo StreetYarra City
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