Kyneton Botanical Gardens
The Kyneton Botanical Gardens has a range of heritage listed trees, commemorative trees (oaks and Wollemi pine).
The Gardens date back to 1858 and with wide lawns sloping down towards the Campaspe River, it has magnificent specimen trees, some of which are found at few locations outside Melbourne. Seventeen significant trees are listed by the National Trust of Australia including the unusual Chilean Wine Palm.
The gardens are 25 acres in size and were established in 1858 during the boom which came with the gold rush. In 1861 a competition was held that required all entrants to produce a proposed landscape design for the Kyneton Botanic Gardens. The competition was won by Stuart Murray and the site was then permanently reserved as Public Gardens in 1867.
Many of the plants were sourced from Ferdinand von Mueller, Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens (1857-1873), with the major period of planting being from 1870 to 1900. Vestiges of some of the early features are still in evidence, such as the drinking fountain (1903) and rotunda. The bluestone wall along the Mollison Street boundary was built in 1884 and substantial pickets fenced the other boundaries. The memorial gates at the front entrance were built in 1936. To celebrate the centenary of the Shire of Kyneton in 1965, a new bluestone gateway and memorial drive commemorating the civic service of the McKenna family were constructed off Mollison Street.
The Friends of Kyneton Botanic Gardens were formed in 2005 to raise awareness of the gardens and their conservation. During the Millennium Drought (1997-2009) many trees in the gardens suffered badly. Through the efforts of the group and with major Council investment, the gardens were connected to a recycled water supply which would help improve the condition of the gardens' many important trees. In 2017, after several years of community activity, a contemporary nature-based community park was developed at the western end of the gardens.
There are facilities and features such as public toilets, a drinking fountain dating from 1902, a fairy ring of trees, "Fetching Them In" sculpture which depicts a sheepdog rounding up sheep, an old Gardener's Cottage, Rotunda, swings, riverside walk along the Campaspe, an old covered market pig shelter originating from the old saleyards site, memorial gates and centenary gates.
There are a number of significant trees with the Kyneton Botanical Gardens. See the map below for the location of these trees.
1. Jubaea chilensis, (Family Arecaceae), Chilean Wine Palm
2. Cedrus atlantica f. glauca, (Family Pinaceae), Blue Atlas Cedar
3. Quercus lanata, (Family Fagaceae), Himalayan oak
4. Chamaecyparis funebris, (Family Cupressaceae), Funeral Cypress
5. Prunus lusitanica variegate, (Family Rosaceae), Variegated Portugese Laurel
6. Quercus suber, (Family Fagaceae), Cork Oak
7. Sequoiadendron giganteum, (Family Taxodiaceae), Giant Redwood
8. Sequoia sempervirens, (Family Taxodiaceae), Californian Redwood
9. Quercus robur, (Family Fagaceae), English Oak
10. Quercus canariensis, (Family Fagaceae), Algerian Oak
11. Quercus douglasil, (Family Fagaceae), Blue oak
12. Quercus agrifolla, (Family Fagaceae), California Live Oak
13. Ables nordmanniana, (Family Pinaceae), Caucasian Fir
14. Araucaria bidwillil, (Family Araucariaceae), Bunya Bunya Pine
15. Ginkgo biloba, (Family Ginkgoaceae), Maidenhair Tree
16. Hesperocyparis lusitanica, (Family Cupressaceae), Mexican Cypress
17. Quercus macrocarpa var. oliviformus, (Family Fagaceae), Burr Oak
Review:
The gardens set on the higher ground are pleasant and descend to a grassy area dotted with trees. There are plenty of picnic tables and toilets at the west end. One side is bordered by the Campaspe River and the Campaspe Riverwalk follows the river for about 3km. There is a very basic playground (some swings) in the Gardens.
Note: A fantastic Kyneton Community Park Playspace has been created beside the gardens.
Photos:
Location
Cnr Clowes St and Mollison St, Kyneton 3444 Map
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