Australian Garden History Society

Welcome to the Australian Garden History Society

Formed in 1980, the AGHS brings together people united by an appreciation of and concern for our parks, gardens and cultural landscapes as part of Australia's heritage.

The Society promotes knowledge of historic gardens and research into their history. It aims to examine gardens and gardening in their widest social, historic, literary, artistic and scientific context.

AGHS Branches

The AGHS has eight state/regional branches across Australia.

To find out what’s happening in your region visit the branch pages for your region:

CURRENT ISSUE of the AGHS JOURNAL

Australian Garden History

Volume 24 Number 4

April/May/June 2013

In members letterboxes now!

34th Annual National Conference

Armidale, NSW

17 – 21 October 2013

The 34th Annual National Conference of the Australian Garden History Society ‘Gardens with altitude: the high lean country of New England’

The Northern NSW sub-branch invites you to attend the 34th Annual National Conference to be based in Armidale from 17 – 21 October 2013. For over 150 years, and sometimes through many generations, old and new gardeners in the New England region have dreamed of and developed pleasure gardens, large homestead gardens, and small town gardens, and continue to triumph over weather patterns, old and new, as well as embracing the distinctive local landscape.

We invite you to see the results, as well as hear outstanding speakers explaining how these gardens have been developed and maintained. There will also be many opportunities to enjoy the natural landscape, cuisine, wines, crafts, and art of the region.

More information to come in the Jan/Feb/March issue of Australian Garden History.

Register online now!

Booked out! Waiting List places only. Please call the office 03 9650 5043

NEW!

Studies in Australian Garden History – Volume 3 ‘Managing change in historical landscapes’

The third volume of the Studies in Australian Garden History series has recently been released. Edited by National Management Committee members, Dr John Dwyer QC and Dr Jan Schapper it features a collection of essays centred on the theme of managing change in historical landscapes.

Topics and authors featured in this volume are:

The Lost Gardens of Moorlands by Bernadette Turner.
Ephemeral Plants/Intangible Meanings: Pioneering Women’s Memorial Garden Adelaide by Louise Bird.
Conserving significance within a context of change: a case study of the Glenferrie sports ground and Grace Park precinct Hawthorn, Melbourne by Christina Dyson.
Tasmanian Historic Gardens and their ‘prospects’: then and now by Gwenda Sheridan.
‘Turning off the tap’ by Dr David Jones.

$25 RRP (Special Members price $20, plus $10 postage and packaging) To order contact the AGHS office.

Current Projects Being Undertaken by the AGHS

The first objective of the Society is to promote interest in, and research into, significant cultural landscapes and the systematic identifying, recording and restoration of historic gardens, as an important component of Australia’s heritage.

Each year the AGHS allocates funds to support a number of projects that raise awareness about the existence of the Society, to better disseminate information and improve communications to advance and encourage garden and landscape research, recording and conservation. These funds are in addition to $12,560 earmarked for projects under the aegis of the Kindred Spirits Fund. The National Management Committee is currently seeking applications for funding please click here for more information and an application form.

Funding Post Graduate Studies

This project is aimed to develop closer links between the Society and various educational institutions working in horticulture and related sciences in fields which are of interest to the Society.

The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Horticultural College, was identified as the institution with which to run a pilot. Two Masters students conducted a joint project. Lecturer Dr Anne Vale and Associate Professor Don Garden supervised the project which is now completed.

AGHS Restoration Fund for Historic Gardens

The mission and objectives of the Australian Garden History Society make reference to “Recording and Restoration”, “Conservation of significant ... historic gardens” and “Foster the highest standards of conservation and maintenance”.

To support this mission, in 2008 the Australian Garden History Society (AGHS) established a special fund to assist in the restoration of significant historic gardens.

Applications are currently open for new projects. Click here for more information and an application form.

In 2012 Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine, Victoria and Myall Park Botanic Gardens in Glenmorgan Queensland successfully applied for funding of $10,000 each. Buda sought funding to remove and replace the senescent Cypresses hedge, and Myall Park the restoration of a Hakea bed. Both projects were recently completed.

Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine, Victoria.

Myall Park Botanic Gardens in Glenmorgan Queensland.

Inventories of Significant Historic Gardens

Within the Society it has been proposed that our advocacy work would be assisted by having a list of historic gardens which are recognised as being significant for each state and the ACT. The condition of these gardens could then be monitored and if threats to their heritage values arose they would receive priority for action by the Society in order to ensure their protection.

The Society wished to explore this proposition but was aware that there are many existing lists of places of heritage significance, drawn up at different times and for different purposes and using different criteria, which include gardens (and in some cases landscapes). If the Society knew more about these existing heritage lists – their scope, criteria, availability, quality and gaps - it could refer to them to determine the significance of specific gardens or use them to start drawing up its own list. These would be useful for its advocacy, education and research activities.

To this end the Society has commissioned consultants to firstly undertake a pilot study of how gardens are represented on existing heritage lists in Queensland, and then a second study covering the other states and the ACT.

2011 Australia Wide Study

A National Review of Inventories of Historic Gardens, Trees and Landscapes

The Society was aware that the situation in other states may be different to that in Queensland, due to work done by the National Trust and the openness of state registers to listing gardens and landscapes. Accordingly in 2011/12 the Society has commissioned heritage architect and planner Dr Timothy Hubbard and horticultural consultant and heritage consultant Annabel Neylon (Context) to look at the position with respect to the representation of historic gardens on state and local government heritage lists in the other states and the ACT. The final draft report is now available here.

Heritage Gardens Queensland Survey

In Queensland an opportunity arose to carry out a state wide survey of historic gardens and assess their heritage significance, due to the generosity of the Jani Haenke Charitable Trust. Jani was a member of the Society who died in 2009.

A team of Catherine Brouwer Landscape Architects, Nissen Associates (historians) and Riddel Architecture was appointed in June 2012 to undertake the survey. The objectives of the survey are to search in existing lists and on the ground for old gardens (widely defined) across Queensland and produce a list of those with heritage significance, and raise public awareness of awareness of the values of old gardens and landscapes.

The survey team is currently calling for submissions / nominations from Society members, garden enthusiasts, historical societies, local authorities and anyone who may know of an interesting Queensland garden or landscape.

Click here for more information or to nominate a place.

Other AGHS projects are being developed. Reports will be made in the future as they come to fruition.

Honour & Memorial Avenues / Roadside Plantings; Lone Pines / Arbor Day Plantings – Australia-wide

Explore this extensive list, which has recently been divided into states and territories, to discover plantings near you or farther afield. We welcome your input on Avenues that do not appear on the list. Email: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au.

For more information please have a look at the www.treenet.com.au/ as well as www.avenuesofhonour.org/site.

King George V Memorial Ave Tamworth, NSW
(photo courtesy Christine McKinnon)

Australian Landscape Conference 2013

Design for the Future: models from the Old World, challenges for the New

The conference offers an outstanding range of International and Australian speakers at the Melbourne Convention Centre, 20 – 23 September 2013.

There are 15 remarkable presentations with 13 by key international speakers. Aniket Bhagwat from India, heads the leading firm, Landscape India; Anne Latreille is a key Australian garden writer; Juan Grimm is from Chile with an international reputation; Ken Smith is at the cutting edge of New York design; Louisa Jones is a world authority on gardens and landscapes of the Mediterranean; Paul Bangay is probably Australia’s best known designer with Simon Griffiths—a world class garden photographer. Raymond Jungles is a distinguished tropical designer based in Miami; Toshio Watanabe is a key authority on the gardens of Japan and Peter Watts has been a highly respected landscape architect and heritage administrator with a deep knowledge of the arts. The rapporteur sessions enable comment and interaction. There is a marvellous designer gardens tour to the Mornington Peninsula, a Speakers Dinner and Workshops will feature as a new initiative.

This is one conference not to be missed!

Website: www.landscapeconference.com/AU/

Celebrating Canberra's Centenary

Canberra is celebrating its centenary this year as the nation’s capital.

The ACT Monaro Riverina Branch warmly invites all AGHS members to join them in their program of activities tracing the history of Canberra the Planned Garden City.

This program is part of the very diverse and exciting official program of events running through 2013 – see www.canberra100.com.au for details.

Heritage Apples, Pears, Quinces, Plums & Citrus – The Who, What, Where List

Sydney and Northern New South Wales Branch Chair, Stuart Read has recently compiled a handy resource for those interested in locating heritage fruit trees to renew or reinstate your gardens and orchards. Please let us know any more resources not on this list.

Now Available! 2011 Conference Proceedings

The AGHS is grateful to the Queensland Review for making available Volume 1 No. 1, dedicated to the 2011 AGHS Annual National Conference in Queensland.

The Volume 10 No. 2, papers from the 2003 Queensland Conference are available to read online (5 Mb).

Index opens up past issues ...

The index to Australian Garden History has been updated. So, no it’s easier to find even more articles, gardens, or other gems contained in volumes 1–20 of Australian Garden History with the Index to Volumes 1-20 of Australian Garden History.

Compiled by AGHS member Kirstie McRobert, this comprehensive index covers Australian Garden History from 1989-2009.

A printed version is available for $25.00 (including postage) from the AGHS office.

If you find an article of interest but don't have the issue, don’t despair. Back issues can be purchased using the purchase form or by contacting the AGHS office.

AGHS Cards

The AGHS has produced a set of 4 stunning cards on the subject of trees, photographed by Trisha Dixon Burkitt. These are now available for purchase in packs of 8 (2 cards of each design per pack) or 4 (1 card of each design per pack).

Cost: $20 per 8 pack (plus postage) – excellent value at just $2.50 for each card OR $10 per 4 card pack (plus postage).

Order online using the purchase form, or contact the AGHS office 1800 678 446 or 03 9650 5043.

Special Book Offer to AGHS Members

Alexander Macleay From Scotland to Sydney

by Derelie Cherry

Published by Paradise Publishers

The first biography of this extraordinary Scottish gentleman.

AGHS Members Price $45.00 (RRP $59.95)

For more information and to purchase click here.

Recent Issues of Australian Garden History

January/February/March 2013

October/November/December 2012

July/August/September 2012

April/May/June 2012

January/February/March 2012

October/November/December 2011

July/August/September 2011

Associate YOUR name with the AGHS Website - see Sponsorship Guidelines.

Contact Details

Head Office

Gate Lodge

100 Birdwood Avenue

Melbourne Victoria 3004

Phone: 03 9650 5043 or Tollfree 1800 678 446

Fax: 03 9650 8470

General Information: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au

Journal: editor@gardenhistorysociety.org.au

Webmaster: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au

The views expressed on this website are those of the contributors and are not necessarily shared by the AGHS.

Welcome to the Australian Garden History Society Formed in 1980, the AGHS brings together people united by an appreciation of and concern for our parks, gardens and cultural landscapes as part of Australia's heritage. The Society promotes knowledge of historic gardens and research into their history. It aims to examine gardens and gardening in their widest social, historic, literary, artistic and scientific context.
AGHS Branches The AGHS has eight state/regional branches across Australia. To find out what’s happening in your region visit the branch pages for your region: ACT/Monaro/Riverina Queensland South Australia Southern Highlands Sydney & Northern NSW Tasmania Victoria Western Australia
CURRENT ISSUE of the AGHS JOURNAL Australian Garden History Volume 24 Number 4 April/May/June 2013 In members letterboxes now!
34th Annual National Conference Armidale, NSW 17 – 21 October 2013 The 34th Annual National Conference of the Australian Garden History Society ‘Gardens with altitude: the high lean country of New England’ The Northern NSW sub-branch invites you to attend the 34th Annual National Conference to be based in Armidale from 17 – 21 October 2013. For over 150 years, and sometimes through many generations, old and new gardeners in the New England region have dreamed of and developed pleasure gardens, large homestead gardens, and small town gardens, and continue to triumph over weather patterns, old and new, as well as embracing the distinctive local landscape. We invite you to see the results, as well as hear outstanding speakers explaining how these gardens have been developed and maintained. There will also be many opportunities to enjoy the natural landscape, cuisine, wines, crafts, and art of the region. More information to come in the Jan/Feb/March issue of Australian Garden History. Register online now! Booked out! Waiting List places only. Please call the office 03 9650 5043
NEW! Studies in Australian Garden History – Volume 3 ‘Managing change in historical landscapes’ The third volume of the Studies in Australian Garden History series has recently been released. Edited by National Management Committee members, Dr John Dwyer QC and Dr Jan Schapper it features a collection of essays centred on the theme of managing change in historical landscapes. Topics and authors featured in this volume are: The Lost Gardens of Moorlands by Bernadette Turner. Ephemeral Plants/Intangible Meanings: Pioneering Women’s Memorial Garden Adelaide by Louise Bird. Conserving significance within a context of change: a case study of the Glenferrie sports ground and Grace Park precinct Hawthorn, Melbourne by Christina Dyson. Tasmanian Historic Gardens and their ‘prospects’: then and now by Gwenda Sheridan. ‘Turning off the tap’ by Dr David Jones. $25 RRP (Special Members price $20, plus $10 postage and packaging) To order contact the AGHS office.
Current Projects Being Undertaken by the AGHS The first objective of the Society is to promote interest in, and research into, significant cultural landscapes and the systematic identifying, recording and restoration of historic gardens, as an important component of Australia’s heritage. Each year the AGHS allocates funds to support a number of projects that raise awareness about the existence of the Society, to better disseminate information and improve communications to advance and encourage garden and landscape research, recording and conservation. These funds are in addition to $12,560 earmarked for projects under the aegis of the Kindred Spirits Fund. The National Management Committee is currently seeking applications for funding please click here for more information and an application form. Funding Post Graduate Studies This project is aimed to develop closer links between the Society and various educational institutions working in horticulture and related sciences in fields which are of interest to the Society. The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Horticultural College, was identified as the institution with which to run a pilot. Two Masters students conducted a joint project. Lecturer Dr Anne Vale and Associate Professor Don Garden supervised the project which is now completed. AGHS Restoration Fund for Historic Gardens The mission and objectives of the Australian Garden History Society make reference to “Recording and Restoration”, “Conservation of significant ... historic gardens” and “Foster the highest standards of conservation and maintenance”. To support this mission, in 2008 the Australian Garden History Society (AGHS) established a special fund to assist in the restoration of significant historic gardens. Applications are currently open for new projects. Click here for more information and an application form. In 2012 Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine, Victoria and Myall Park Botanic Gardens in Glenmorgan Queensland successfully applied for funding of $10,000 each. Buda sought funding to remove and replace the senescent Cypresses hedge, and Myall Park the restoration of a Hakea bed. Both projects were recently completed. Buda Historic Home and Garden, Castlemaine, Victoria. Myall Park Botanic Gardens in Glenmorgan Queensland. Inventories of Significant Historic Gardens Within the Society it has been proposed that our advocacy work would be assisted by having a list of historic gardens which are recognised as being significant for each state and the ACT. The condition of these gardens could then be monitored and if threats to their heritage values arose they would receive priority for action by the Society in order to ensure their protection. The Society wished to explore this proposition but was aware that there are many existing lists of places of heritage significance, drawn up at different times and for different purposes and using different criteria, which include gardens (and in some cases landscapes). If the Society knew more about these existing heritage lists – their scope, criteria, availability, quality and gaps - it could refer to them to determine the significance of specific gardens or use them to start drawing up its own list. These would be useful for its advocacy, education and research activities. To this end the Society has commissioned consultants to firstly undertake a pilot study of how gardens are represented on existing heritage lists in Queensland, and then a second study covering the other states and the ACT. 2011 Australia Wide Study A National Review of Inventories of Historic Gardens, Trees and Landscapes The Society was aware that the situation in other states may be different to that in Queensland, due to work done by the National Trust and the openness of state registers to listing gardens and landscapes. Accordingly in 2011/12 the Society has commissioned heritage architect and planner Dr Timothy Hubbard and horticultural consultant and heritage consultant Annabel Neylon (Context) to look at the position with respect to the representation of historic gardens on state and local government heritage lists in the other states and the ACT. The final draft report is now available here. Heritage Gardens Queensland Survey In Queensland an opportunity arose to carry out a state wide survey of historic gardens and assess their heritage significance, due to the generosity of the Jani Haenke Charitable Trust. Jani was a member of the Society who died in 2009. A team of Catherine Brouwer Landscape Architects, Nissen Associates (historians) and Riddel Architecture was appointed in June 2012 to undertake the survey. The objectives of the survey are to search in existing lists and on the ground for old gardens (widely defined) across Queensland and produce a list of those with heritage significance, and raise public awareness of awareness of the values of old gardens and landscapes. The survey team is currently calling for submissions / nominations from Society members, garden enthusiasts, historical societies, local authorities and anyone who may know of an interesting Queensland garden or landscape. Click here for more information or to nominate a place. Other AGHS projects are being developed. Reports will be made in the future as they come to fruition.
Honour & Memorial Avenues / Roadside Plantings; Lone Pines / Arbor Day Plantings – Australia-wide Explore this extensive list, which has recently been divided into states and territories, to discover plantings near you or farther afield. We welcome your input on Avenues that do not appear on the list. Email: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au. For more information please have a look at the www.treenet.com.au/ as well as www.avenuesofhonour.org/site.	King George V Memorial Ave Tamworth, NSW (photo courtesy Christine McKinnon)
Australian Landscape Conference 2013 Design for the Future: models from the Old World, challenges for the New The conference offers an outstanding range of International and Australian speakers at the Melbourne Convention Centre, 20 – 23 September 2013. There are 15 remarkable presentations with 13 by key international speakers. Aniket Bhagwat from India, heads the leading firm, Landscape India; Anne Latreille is a key Australian garden writer; Juan Grimm is from Chile with an international reputation; Ken Smith is at the cutting edge of New York design; Louisa Jones is a world authority on gardens and landscapes of the Mediterranean; Paul Bangay is probably Australia’s best known designer with Simon Griffiths—a world class garden photographer. Raymond Jungles is a distinguished tropical designer based in Miami; Toshio Watanabe is a key authority on the gardens of Japan and Peter Watts has been a highly respected landscape architect and heritage administrator with a deep knowledge of the arts. The rapporteur sessions enable comment and interaction. There is a marvellous designer gardens tour to the Mornington Peninsula, a Speakers Dinner and Workshops will feature as a new initiative. This is one conference not to be missed! Website: www.landscapeconference.com/AU/
Celebrating Canberra's Centenary Canberra is celebrating its centenary this year as the nation’s capital. The ACT Monaro Riverina Branch warmly invites all AGHS members to join them in their program of activities tracing the history of Canberra the Planned Garden City. This program is part of the very diverse and exciting official program of events running through 2013 – see www.canberra100.com.au for details.
Heritage Apples, Pears, Quinces, Plums & Citrus – The Who, What, Where List Sydney and Northern New South Wales Branch Chair, Stuart Read has recently compiled a handy resource for those interested in locating heritage fruit trees to renew or reinstate your gardens and orchards. Please let us know any more resources not on this list.
Now Available! 2011 Conference Proceedings The AGHS is grateful to the Queensland Review for making available Volume 1 No. 1, dedicated to the 2011 AGHS Annual National Conference in Queensland. The Volume 10 No. 2, papers from the 2003 Queensland Conference are available to read online (5 Mb).
Index opens up past issues ... The index to Australian Garden History has been updated. So, no it’s easier to find even more articles, gardens, or other gems contained in volumes 1–20 of Australian Garden History with the Index to Volumes 1-20 of Australian Garden History. Compiled by AGHS member Kirstie McRobert, this comprehensive index covers Australian Garden History from 1989-2009. A printed version is available for $25.00 (including postage) from the AGHS office. If you find an article of interest but don't have the issue, don’t despair. Back issues can be purchased using the purchase form or by contacting the AGHS office.
AGHS Cards The AGHS has produced a set of 4 stunning cards on the subject of trees, photographed by Trisha Dixon Burkitt. These are now available for purchase in packs of 8 (2 cards of each design per pack) or 4 (1 card of each design per pack). Cost: $20 per 8 pack (plus postage) – excellent value at just $2.50 for each card OR $10 per 4 card pack (plus postage). Order online using the purchase form, or contact the AGHS office 1800 678 446 or 03 9650 5043.
Special Book Offer to AGHS Members Alexander Macleay From Scotland to Sydney by Derelie Cherry Published by Paradise Publishers The first biography of this extraordinary Scottish gentleman. AGHS Members Price $45.00 (RRP $59.95) For more information and to purchase click here.
Recent Issues of Australian Garden History January/February/March 2013 October/November/December 2012 July/August/September 2012 April/May/June 2012 January/February/March 2012 October/November/December 2011 July/August/September 2011 Associate YOUR name with the AGHS Website - see Sponsorship Guidelines.
Contact Details Head Office Gate Lodge 100 Birdwood Avenue Melbourne Victoria 3004 Phone: 03 9650 5043 or Tollfree 1800 678 446 Fax: 03 9650 8470 General Information: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au Journal: editor@gardenhistorysociety.org.au Webmaster: info@gardenhistorysociety.org.au The views expressed on this website are those of the contributors and are not necessarily shared by the AGHS.