Elizabeth Kerry
Chair:
Robyn Hawkins
Secretary:
Ivan Saltmarsh
Treasurer:
Rex Bean
Newsletter Editor:
Robyn Hawkins
Committee:
Elizabeth Kerry
Warwick Oakman
Deirdre Pearson
Ken Wright
The Tasmanian Branch Newsletter has a new look with lots of information inside.
Visits to "Southlea" and Antarctic garden, including AGM, 25 July 2009
"Southlea"
"Southlea", just south of Hobart, was granted to William Proctor in 1831. Part of a convict built road and extensive dry-stone walls constructed during his time there still exist. A chestnut tree and hawthorn, among plants acquired from the Royal Society survive from that era. An orchard was developed by the next owner, Colonel Fitzroy, who owned the property from 1876 until 1898. Some pear trees have survived from that time.
The present owners bought the property in 1960 by which time it was quite run down and overgrown. They began discovering stone walls as they cleared the property. In 1967 horrific bushfires destroyed the original homestead but further revealed the extent of the stone walls. "Southlea" is now listed on the Tasmanian Heritage Register for its dry-stone walls.
The Antarctic garden, Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston
Professor Pat Quilty, a geologist and palaeontologist gave an illustrated talk on the palaeontology of Antarctica and Gondwana and explained the relationship between the flora of the southern continents and the plants which once grew in Antarctica. He made particular reference to the Tasmanian flora and the choice of plants for the Antarctic garden. The species are mostly rainforest species from Tasmania. However, a recent addition is the Wollemi pine, whose association has only been recognized recently. A significant line of evidence of the original flora of Antarctica comes from pollen and spores. In addition there are records of wood, leaves, roots and twigs.
The lecture was followed by a tour of the garden led by Pat.
A description of the establishment of the garden and its scientific basis can be found in : Quilty, Patrick. Garden of Antarctic delights, Australian Garden History 1999, 1:4-10.
Perth, including “Eskleigh” and the Baptist Tabernacle, 20 September 2009
This was a fascinating day of lectures and viewings which was, in effect, an outline of the history of the Gibson family and their involvement in the development of Perth. The family settled in the area in the early 1800s. They originally owned “Pleasant Banks” and later “Native Point” across the South Esk River from Perth and “Scone”, later called “Eskleigh”. The Baptist Tabernacle, with its unusual octagonal design and domed roof is said to have been based on an Indian mosque. Pastor Curran talked of the history of the church and of its links with the Gibson family.
John Hawkins then led a walk to the South Esk River to point out the sites of a punt operated by the Gibsons in the early 1800s and the bridge they built in the 1830s. It was an impressive nine arch stone bridge which unfortunately was destroyed by floods in the 1920s.
John continued in the afternoon with a lecture on the history of the Gibson family and their settlement in the Perth district. He talked about the creation of the buildings and landscapes which we see today. He showed an extensive collection of photos of “Eskleigh” during construction and the development of the garden.
“Eskleigh” is of particular interest to the Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Garden History Society as the garden has been selected for recording. The house, situated just south of the present township of Perth, was completed in 1889, is an imposing high Victorian building with a tower and large bay windows overlooking the beautiful countryside and the river. In the past there was a clear view from “Eskleigh” to the bridge and the Tabernacle. The view is still magnificent although tall trees now obstruct the view of the Tabernacle. The interior of the house is equally impressive, and to a large extent original, with intricate ceiling decorations, cornices and elaborate marble fireplaces. Stained glass panels depict Australian flora and fauna, and these designs are also used as motifs on the ceilings.
Although much of the garden has been lost some of the early plantings remain, including a weeping elm, weeping birch and an English oak. Parts of the basic structure are still evident, including the remnants of the garden wall and a glasshouse with a unique window opening system. A grant has been received from the Heritage Council for restoration of the glasshouse.
Port Arthur, Saturday 7 November 2009.
We were delighted when Mike and Dorothy Evans offered to plan and lead a tour of the Port Arthur historic site. Both are botanists and worked at the site for a number of years, Mike as a guide and gardens researcher and Dorothy as interpretive manager.
The tour began at the Commandant’s House. Looking from here across Mason Cove allowed a vision the original landscape, a dense forest of tall eucalypts, dominated by Tasmanian bluegum Eucalyptus globulus which favours the wetter situations and Messmate stringybark Eucalyptus obliqua. The tall bluegums standing in front of the Commandant’s House are remnants of the original vegetation and are little changed from their appearance in a photograph taken 150 years ago.
Some of the older exotic trees in the Commandant’s garden were planted by the first civil Commandant of Port Arthur, Charles O’Hara Booth. He and other civil officers were keen naturalists and gardeners. Trees such as the massive Bay tree Laurus nobilis and two Norfolk Island pines Araucaria excelsa, stand either side of the original residence in Georgian symmetry. There were also many fruit trees in the Commandant’s garden and orchard and throughout the rest of the settlement. A recent project has been to graft material from all remaining fruit trees and plant them as an orchard adjacent to Trentham, a cottage built after the closure of the convict settlement.
Plants were used to re-create a predominantly English landscape and came from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, the Acclimatization Society and friends and families who sent seeds and material (such as geraniums) from ‘home’. There were also species collected by keen naturalists on the outward voyages via Portugal (Echium candicans), the Americas (Rhus typhina) and South Africa (Melianthus major).
There are now concerns about some of the older trees. The early plantings of English oaks Quercus robur along the original seafront suffered root compaction resulting from vehicle traffic in the days of open access to the park. Soil aeration, plenty of fertilizer and changed traffic movement have relieved this problem. However the Memorial Avenue, planted in 1918 by the local schoolchildren, is steadily dying. The Monterey cypress Cupressus macrocarpa, like many conifer species, has a normal life span of up to one hundred years leading to the dilemma faced by many communities – what to do with a short-lived memorial.
Extensive vegetable gardens and a farm provided for some 1200 prisoners and several hundred civilian and military personnel and families, a necessity at this remote site. Basic supplies were plentiful, such as cabbages, potatoes and turnips, while it was possible to grow a great variety of vegetables and fruits in season. In the first years of the settlement the convicts were allowed to grow their own food. George Arthur the Governor at the time disapproved, suspecting that such produce would provide a black market for trading such delights as tobacco. His ban on the gardens led to shortages of greens and eventually to a severe outbreak of scurvy, consequently the extensive gardens were developed, using convict labour but carefully supervised.
Commercial crops were trialled also and some such as hops for beer and New Zealand flax Phormium tenax proved useful. The flax was grown to provide labour for the inmates of the Separate Prison who removed (retted) the fibres from the leaves to weave into sailcloth. Other trials such as tea and cork oak production were not successful.
Decorative gardens were mostly around individual houses, but in 1846 Commandant Champ decreed that there should be created a leisure garden where the ladies and the families could enjoy gentle, outdoor pursuits away from the eyes of the convicts. The formal garden led down from Government Cottage to what had been the waterfront and provided extensive borders of flowers, a pattern of paths and a central fountain, gravity fed from a well at the top of the garden. After many years of neglect this garden has been restored using plant records from the time of its establishment, contemporary paintings and photos. We saw it at its best, with many species of old roses and their companion plants in full bloom.
A path lined with Hazel pomaderris Pomaderris aspera leads into the Memorial Garden, built in memory of the victims of the Port Arthur massacre on 28 April 1996. Many native species such as Leatherwood Eucryphia lucida and Blue berry Dianella tasmanica surround a reflecting pool and create a beautiful space for quiet reflection.
Christmas at Kempton
This event was very well attended and enjoyed by all. We visited Leo Schofield’s magnificent house and garden “Dysart House” (1945). We then walked along Main Road with its wealth Georgian and Victorian buildings and were invited to take a closer look at “Fernleigh” a uniquely designed homestead where elements of the old garden have been preserved. This was followed by lunch under lovely old trees in the garden at the “Wilmot Arms” (1843) and the opportunity to visit St Mary’s Church of England (1839) next door.
Saturday 20 March 2010
Gardens of historic properties in the Oatlands area.
The plan is to meet at the Jericho Hall opposite St James Church at 9.45 am (not 11 am as advised previously). We will leave the cars at Jericho and travel to the gardens by bus, with commentary by a local historian.
Cost: members $45 non-members $55. Lunch and morning tea are included.
Enquiries: Ken Wright 03 6227 9363 or Robyn Hawkins 03 6363 6131
Full details and booking forms.will be mailed or emailed soon.
Sunday 11 April
Please keep this date free for a planned visit to “Redlands”, Plenty.
