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Page Last Updated:
Tuesday, 28 July 2009 |
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Home>Sports, Parks, Fitness & Leisure>Sale Botanic Gardens>Sale Botanical Gardens - A History
The Sale Botanic Gardens are part of the Lake Guthridge Parklands precinct, located in Guthridge Parade, Sale, at the Eastern end of Lake Guthridge.
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| Beginnings | | The Sale Botanical Gardens originated in 1860 following a petition by the leading residents of Gippsland. Around 34 acres in size, the gardens at first comprised the higher ground off Guthridge Parade and the eastern portion of the swamp which, in time, became Lake Guthridge.
The Gippsland petitioners were playing catch-up. Other important towns in provincial Victoria already had botanical gardens. Sale, with notions of becoming the capital of Gippsland, did not wish to miss out on the civic prestige that gardens conferred.
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| The Cottage | | In 1870 a cottage for the curator of the gardens was built. Robert Wain became the best known early curator. A resident curator was essential as damage was being done by stray cattle and footloose youths.
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| Early Plantings | | The townspeople celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday in 1872 by gathering for the first major planting of trees and shrubs. The donated trees were in most cases planted by the donors themselves. Gravel walks meandering through the new plantations were christened with names such as Bachelors' Walk and Lovers' Walk, but these names did not survive past the fun of the day.
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| Famous Advisers | | The gardens were laid out and planted by prominent townsmen, notably Councillor Robert Topping and Councillor John English with the assistance of curators and local nurserymen. Sale was fortunate to receive plant stock from the distinguished botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1870, and advice from outstanding landscape architect, William Guilfoyle, who inspected the gardens in 1881.
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| Aboriginal Presence | | The Gunai-Kurnai were the original occupiers, as were stately river red gums. One 'canoe tree' on the water's edge became a favourite place for family photographs.
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| Gates | | The Gardens were surrounded by fencing to keep roving stock out and elaborate gates were constructed facing Foster Street.
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| Lake Guthridge | | This was named after Sale's first mayor, the visionary Nehemiah Guthridge, who urged Sale Council to convert an unsightly, smelly swamp into a lake. Through his advocacy, in 1884 this water body became a Reserve for Water Conservation and Extension of Botanical Gardens.
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| Long Decline | | The gardens went into long decline when Sale Council, around the time of World War One, opted to develop Victoria Park as its main garden. The neglect of the Botanical Gardens strengthened the hand of sporting clubs in their quest to relocate. The lease of the gardens to the Sale Golf Club 1922-1950, and the accommodation given to other sports, almost doomed the gardens.
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| Rehabilitation in 21st Century | | A re-awakening of the value of botanical gardens has enabled the remnants of the Sale Gardens to be regenerated. A Conservation Plan, reclamation of part of the Fauna Park, a replanting programme and the integration of the old gardens into the margins of Lake Guthridge and into the more recently constructed Lake Guyatt, are promising developments in keeping with the original purposes of the Sale Botanical Gardens.
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