EASTERN PARK & GEELONG BOTANIC GARDENS
1-55 GARDEN STREET EAST GEELONG, GREATER GEELONG CITY
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Statement of Significance
What is significant?
Eastern Park at Limeburners Point Geelong is approximately 90 hectares of public parkland used for recreational, botanical and horticultural activities and includes the Geelong Botanic Gardens, the Geelong Bowling and Croquet Clubs and several playing fields. The Park abuts Limeburners Point Kilns (H1288) to the north and east and Eastern Beach Reserve (H0929) to the west. The park landscape is characterised by open grasslands and mature trees dominated by conifers and Sugar Gums and views across Corio Bay.
The Crown Reserve land of Eastern Park was set aside as a Botanical Reserve in 1851. Daniel Bunce, first curator of the Gardens (1857-1872), planned botanic gardens for the entirety of the reserve. He created an intricate pattern of pathways and a lake towards the southeast corner (filled in 1929), initiated the planting of conifers as the dominant species in the park and formally laid out the parallel paths and beds of the nursery in the centre of the reserve. Whilst curator Bunce used the Botanic Gardens to propagate and distribute exotic and indigenous plants to other botanic reserves then being established in Victoria including White Hills in Bendigo (H1915) and Williamstown (H1803). Bunce was also responsible for the early designs of the Colac and Camperdown Botanic Gardens. The Gardens second curator, John Raddenberry (1872 -1896) simplified Bunce's original design for pathways and concentrated the botanic gardens in Bunce's nursery area at their present location. The planting of conifers in the Park was continued by Raddenberry and his successors.
The area now known as Geelong Botanic Gardens is 3.6 hectares of intensely cultivated gardens laid out along an east-west axis in a shallow valley in the centre of Eastern Park. At the core of the Gardens are the parallel paths and beds established by Bunce in the 1860s for the systematic and scientific planting of the original botanic nursery. This design was subsequently utilised by Raddenberry who constructed a large greenhouse with fountain and ponds over the central garden bed along the axis of the original nursery in 1885 (removed in 1957). The Botanic Gardens is dominated by mature 19th century tree plantings, including rare exotic species, alongside more recent plantings.
There have been a number of changes to the extent of the Botanic Gardens although the 19th century core has remained intact. The western boundary of the Gardens was extended in 1959 for the creation of the rose garden, conservatory and decorative gates (designed by Evald Borge Hansen) were added to the new western entrance in 1964. Further extensions of the southern boundary were made in 1990, incorporating open grassland and trees of Eastern Park. In 2001 a 21st Century Garden was created on the western boundary, further extending the area of the Gardens. Within the Botanic Gardens are a number of purpose built structures including a 19th century sunken Pit glasshouse designed to retain a consistent temperature through subsurface construction of its lower portions, the A L Walter Conservatory (1964) and the Florence E Clarke Geranium Conservatory (1972). Several landscape features and structures have been moved to the Gardens from elsewhere including the First Customs House (H0185), erected in Geelong in 1838 and moved to the Botanic Gardens in 1889; the former Cabmen's Shelter, erected in Geelong in 1905 and moved to the Gardens in 1988; the Hitchcock Fountain (1904) and Urns (1904) and the Traill Fountain, all moved from Market Square to the gardens in 1912; and four Japanese bronze cranes erected at St Albans, Whittington (H0741) in the 1870s and brought to the Gardens from Eastern Beach in 1968.
The original extent of Eastern Park has undergone a number of changes, notably the excising of 1.6 hectares in the southwest corner for the Geelong High School in 1914. The pathways and drives have been partially lost and are today marked by rows and avenues of trees or modified to accommodate vehicular traffic and the creation of the 21st Century Garden, however the major elements of the 19th century pathway design remain including the circular parking area in the northwest of the Park providing views across Corio Bay. Eastern Park contains a number of structures and landscape features built for the Park and brought from elsewhere. These include the Superintendent's residence (1942), adjacent to the remains of the original curator's cottage (1854); a rotunda, erected in its present location by 1916 but possibly dating to the turn of the century; the former Ladies Kiosk, erected in Market Square in 1904 and relocated to Eastern Park in 1929; a bronze memorial statue of Queen Victoria, erected in Market Square in 1904 and relocated to Eastern Park in 1912; and the concrete pedestal of a now lost sculpture of the Laocoon, presented to the gardens in 1864.
How is it significant?
Eastern Park and Geelong Botanic Gardens are of historical, scientific (botanical) and aesthetic significance to the State of Victoria, as well as significant for their rarity and uniqueness, potential to educate or illustrate and ability to exhibit the principal characteristics or representative nature.
Why is it significant?
Eastern Park and the Geelong Botanic Gardens, is of historical significance as the second earliest botanical reserve, created only five years after Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens (H1459). Eastern Park and the Geelong Botanic Gardens are also historically significant for their association with noted horticulturalist Daniel Bunce, the Garden's first curator from 1857-1872 who was a pioneer in Australian plant identification and propagation.
Geelong Botanic Gardens is historically significant as an intact example of a 19th century scientific approach to systematic planting for a botanical garden; for the early design and the layout of parallel paths and beds, in place by the 1860s under the curatorship of Daniel Bunce; for the planting character and informal layout of the surrounding sections and the remnant water features that reflect the later more picturesque approach developed by curator John Raddenberry (1872 -1896). Eastern Park and the Geelong Botanic Gardens are of historical significance for the Queen Victoria Avenue of Ulmus minor 'Variegata' (Variegated Elm) planted in 1897,which is the earliest known planting of this cultivar in Victoria and commemorates the Silver Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Eastern Park is of scientific (botanical ) significance a representative example of a mid-Victorian public park, with surviving carriage drives lined with conifers and tree plantings relating to its first decades of development; these include some rare and outstanding individual specimens such as Pinus torreyana (Soledad Pine), Pinus halepensis (Aleppo Pine), Pinus quadrifolia (Mexican Stone Pine), Eucalyptus bauerana (Blue Box), Acer monspessulanum (Montpellier Maple), Cupressus goveniana (Gowen Cypress), Cupressus macnabiana (Macnab Cypress), Juniperus excelsa (Grecian Juniper), Araucaria columnaris (Cook's Pine), Cupressus torulosa (Bhutan Cypress), Harpephyllum caffrum (Kaffir Plum), Picconia excelsa, Xanthorrhoae sp. (Grass-tree).
Geelong Botanic Gardens is of scientific (botanical) significance as an early outstanding example of a regional botanic garden, one of a network created in colonial Victoria that are characterised by a wide range of plants; a picturesque landscaped design incorporating water features and decorative structures; a contrast between open lawns and densely planted shrub beds and areas of intensive horticultural interest. Geelong Botanic Gardens is also of scientific (botanical) significance for its collection of plants characteristic of late 19th century gardens and representative of more specialised plants groups befitting the scientific role of a botanic garden, and for some outstanding individual specimens. These include Scolopia brownii (Gunstock Wood), Ginkgo biloba (Maidenhair Tree), Prumnopitys andina (Plum Fir), Sequoiadendron giganteum (Sierra Redwood), Wigandia caracasana, Quillaja saponaria (Soap-bark Tree), Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea (Purple Beech), Jubaea chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm), Actinostrobus pyramidalis (Swan River Cypress-pine), Picconia excelsa, Corymbia maculata (Spotted Gum), Agathis robusta (Queensland Kauri), Podocarpus elatus (Plum Pine), Acer pseudoplatanus 'Leopoldii' (Variegated Sycamore), Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Bunya Pine) row of 12 trees, Ficus platypoda var. angustifolia, Brachychiton discolor (Queensland Lacebark), Alnus acuminate subsp. glabrata (Evergreen Alder), Cassine crocea (African Holly), Brachychiton x roseus subsp. roseus (Hybrid Flame Tree), Juniperus thurifera (Incense Juniper), Juglans nigra (Black Walnut), and Corynocarpus laevigatus (Karaka).
Eastern Park is aesthetically significant in forming a picturesque landscape of open grasslands and mature trees, individual and in avenues of contrasting forms, foliage and colours, and views across Corio Bay.
Geelong Botanic Gardens is of aesthetic significance for its highly ornamental character derived from the mature plantings, the vistas within the gardens, the physical and visual protection afforded the Gardens by their being at the centre of Eastern Park, and the collection of features such as the former Gate Lodge, Superintendent's residence, Cabman's Shelter, kiosks, fountains, urns, statues, and timber and iron seats that contribute to the ornamental design of the garden landscape.
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EASTERN PARK & GEELONG BOTANIC GARDENS - Permit Exemptions
General Exemptions:General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions. Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.Specific Exemptions:General Conditions: 1. All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object. General Conditions: 2. Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. Note: All archaeological places have the potential to contain significant sub-surface artefacts and other remains. In most cases it will be necessary to obtain approval from the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria before the undertaking any works that have a significant sub-surface component. General Conditions: 3. If there is a conservation policy and plan endorsed by the Executive Director, all works shall be in accordance with it. Note: The existence of a Conservation Management Plan or a Heritage Action Plan endorsed by the Executive Director, Heritage Victoria provides guidance for the management of the heritage values associated with the site. It may not be necessary to obtain a heritage permit for certain works specified in the management plan. General Conditions: 4. Nothing in this determination prevents the Executive Director from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions. General Conditions: 5. Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable.Minor Works : Note: Any Minor Works that in the opinion of the Executive Director will not adversely affect the heritage significance of the place may be exempt from the permit requirements of the Heritage Act. A person proposing to undertake minor works may submit a proposal to the Executive Director. If the Executive Director is satisfied that the proposed works will not adversely affect the heritage values of the site, the applicant may be exempted from the requirement to obtain a heritage permit. If an applicant is uncertain whether a heritage permit is required, it is recommended that the permits co-ordinator be contacted.
Buildings Exteriors:
. Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
. Painting of previously painted walls, posts, and roofing.
. Treatments to stabilise and protect timber, metal and masonry structures.
. Removal of extraneous items such as external lighting, air conditioners, pipe work, ducting, flues, wiring, antennae, aerials, fly screens etc. and making good.
. Demolition of fabric in the course of alterations does not require a separate permit.
Building interiors: Internal works to non-registered buildings are exempt from permit requirements.Other Structures:
. Minor repairs and maintenance which replace like with like.
. Painting of previously painted walls, posts, and roofing in the same colour.
. Treatments to stabilise and protect timber, masonry and iron structures.
Landscape:
Management and maintenance of the general living landscape, including shrubberies, borders and turf.
Management and maintenance of trees including formative and remedial pruning, removal of deadwood, pest and disease control, cabling (and similar supportive works), and planting and removal.
The process of gardening, mowing, hedge clipping, bedding displays, removal of dead plants, disease and weed control, emergency and safety works.
The replanting of plant species to conserve the landscape character.
Development and management of the living plant collections of the Gardens, in accordance with the Plant Collections Policy
Management of trees in accordance with Australian Standard; Pruning of Amenity Trees AS 4373.
Vegetation protection and management of the possum population.
Removal of plants listed as noxious weeds in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.
Repairs, conservation and maintenance to structures and hard landscape elements, sculpture, fountains, monuments, steps, asphalt and gravel paths and roadways, stone and concrete edging, fences, lamps and gates.
Installation, removal or replacement of garden watering and drainage systems beyond the canopy edge of listed trees.
Emergency or safety works to plants, structures, paths, drainage, services or other components.
Minor works commonly associated with the sporting activities of the Geelong Croquet Club, Geelong Bowls Club and the sporting ovals
Installation, placement, modification and removal of components of directional, interpretive, public safety or informational signs, plant labels or other general signs.
Construction, installation or maintenance of services such as water, electricity, lighting, communications cabling, sewer and drainage systems.
EASTERN PARK & GEELONG BOTANIC GARDENS - Permit Exemption Policy
The purpose of the exemptions is to allow works that do not affect the cultural heritage significance of the Eastern Park and Geelong Botanic Gardens.
Whilst the landscape character of Eastern Park as conceived by Daniel Bunce in the 1860s and simplified by John Raddenberry in the 1870s has been substantially altered and in parts erased, Eastern Park nonetheless retains elements from the 19th century character, in particular, the path and road layout and in the dominance of conifers in tree plantings. These elements should be respected while at the same time maintaining the historical and social significance and current role of Eastern Park as a place of various kinds of sport, recreation and cultural activities.
The former nursery area now known as the Geelong Botanic Gardens is of cultural significance as an intact 19th century garden design, containing many significant plants. The design, pathways and character of the plantings should be retained in any future development or works.
The management of trees and plantings may be guided by Chris Dance Land Design Pty. Ltd. Geelong Botanic Gardens and Eastern Park Conservation and Management (1995) and Chris Dance Land Design Pty. Ltd. Geelong Botanic Gardens and Eastern Park Master Plan (1995). Future works and developments should ensure the protection of the designed landscape and the significant plants.
The registered land is taken to include all of the extant landscape features. Maintenance of the existing landscape and replanting to conserve the landscape character over the whole site is exempt from permit requirements. Permit applications will be required for more substantial changes to the landscape generally.
Additions to non-registered buildings and the construction of any new structures on the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and will require a permit.
Assessment of permit applications will take into account the potential impact of changes upon significance. The purpose is not to proscribe any changes considered necessary for other reasons, such as works required to make access safe, but to retain the opportunity to control the impact of the works on heritage significance.
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FIRST CUSTOMS HOUSEVictorian Heritage Register H0185
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CORIO VILLAVictorian Heritage Register H0193
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MERCHISTON HALLVictorian Heritage Register H0192
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'Altona' Homestead (Formerly 'Laverton' Homestead) and Logan ReserveHobsons Bay City
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Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Eastern Park & Geelong Botanic Gardens - Former Federal Woollen Mills - Former Customs House - Matthew Flinders School No.8022 - Geelong Railway Station - Lime Kiln Complex - Former Telegraph Station - Wintergarden - Eastern Cemetery Gatehouse - Kinnears Ropeworks - The Geelong Club - Sunnyside Wool Scour - Bay View Hotel
Public contributions
Tours involving this place See all tours
13/09/16
Eastern Park & Geelong Botanic Gardens - Former Federal Woollen Mills - Former Customs House - Matthew Flinders School No.8022 - Geelong Railway Station - Lime Kiln Complex - Former Telegraph Station - Wintergarden - Eastern Cemetery Gatehouse - Kinnears Ropeworks - The Geelong Club - Sunnyside Wool Scour - Bay View Hotel