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PENSHURST BOTANIC GARDENS

Location Hamilton Highway PENSHURST, Southern Grampians Shire File Number 702 Level Stage 2 study complete

[1/2] 23160 Botanic Gardens [2/2] 23160 Botanic Gardens

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Penshurst Botanic Gardens is a 13 acres reserve located in the centre of the township of Penshurst. The reserve incorporates several different facilities and recreational areas. In the center of the reserve there are a number of built structures, including a 25 metre concrete public swimming pool, a bowling green and associated clubrooms, a cream brick public toilet, three disused tennis courts with a brick tennis pavilion. Some ten metres from the western boundary, there is a natural spring, which has been beautified, in recent years. Colloquially known as the "never-fail spring", it is said to be one of the main reasons that Penshurst was sited in its current location. The reserve has three distinct botanical collections. The most recent is the ' botanic wetlands' area, which is towards the north of the site. The area consists of a number of artificial lakes, streams, waterfalls and a weir, in and around which a wide variety of trees, shrubs, rushes, grasses and sedges which are specific to wetlands around the world have been planted. Located to the north west of the gardens, several beds of native and indigenous plants have been laid out along side an artificial stream which travels from the never fail spring to the botanic wetlands area. Within this planting, several memorial trees have been planted, dedicated to the early pioneer settlers of the Penshurst area. The oldest part of the gardens, other than the natural spring is the collection of European trees located to the east of the gardens. The majority of the these trees appear to be English Oak (Quercus robur), Algerian Oak (Quercus caneriensis) and a number of hybrids between the English Oak and the Algerian Oak. There are also specimens of Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica), Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara), Sycamore (Acer pseudo- platanus), Peppercorn (Shinus molle), White Poplar (Populus alba), Golden Willow (Salix alba) and weeping Willow (Salix babylonica). It is thought that these largely deciduous trees were planted in the 1920s to replace an earlier collection of pines.

How is it significant?
The Penshurst Botanic Gardens is of historica, scientific and social significance to the township of Penshurst and the Southern Grampians Shire.

Why is it significant?
The Penshurst Botanic Gardens are of historical significance for their association with the very early Mount Rouse Protectorate, which was established adjacent to the never fail spring in the early 1840s. It is of further historical significance as it shows the changing development and focus of the townspeople over 150 years of recreation. The Botanical collection which is included in the 1995 wetlands development is of scientific significance for its range of wetland species from around the world. This forms an interesting focus for the gardens, which prior to its re-development was in decline. The gardens are an important cultural site for the people of Penshurst, used for active and passive recreation, social events and relaxation.