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Carlton Gardens & Exhibition Reserve

Location Nicholson Street, Carlton Street, CARLTON VIC 3053 - Property No G13000 File Number G13000 Level National

[1/1] G13000 Fountain Carlton

Statement of Significance

Carlton Gardens and Exhibition Reserve, set aside in 1855, landscaped in 1879-80 in conjunction with the Melbourne International Exhibition, modified for the 1888 Centennial Exhibition, the northern end relandscaped in the 1890s and the whole site subsequently managed as a major city park, is of National significance:

- historically, as one of the major extant nineteenth century exhibition gardens in Australia and with the Exhibition Building one of the major extant nineteenth century exhibition precincts in the world;

- as one of Melbourne's major nineteenth century institutional sites, equal in social significance to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Museum, National Gallery, Zoo, State Library, University of Melbourne, Parliament House and Victoria Market;

- as one of Melbourne's major city parks, providing a complement to Royal Park, Flagstaff Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Treasury Gardens and The Domain;

- for the manner in which the garden provides a context for the Exhibition Building, a structure of outstanding individual significance;

- for its retention of planting from the period 1879 to c.1890s including perimeter planting, shrubberies, open lawns, specimen trees and avenue plantings;

- for its retention of layout and landscape design from the period 1879 to c.1890s, elements from this period include the path system, lakes, major avenues (which permit vistas to and from the Exhibition Building) and the siting of the Exhibition Building as a prominent focus of the garden;

- for the retention of structures and works from the period 1879 to c.1890s including the Exhibition Building (1879-80), curator's cottage (1891), two fountains, basalt fence plinth and remnants of iron fence at the north-west corner;

- for the involvement and retention of design elements of many leading Victorian landscape designers and architects including Edward La Trobe Bateman, Clement Hodgkinson, Reed and Barnes, Taylor and Sangster, and John Guilfoyle;

- for the manner in which the garden influenced the development and provided a focus for surrounding suburbs, the consequent prestige being especially reflected in the nature of the development of Rathdowne and Nicholson Streets.