Darling Gardens

Landscape Citation, 1998

Description

The Darling Gardens is a large suburban park which was temporarily reserved for public use in 1863. Von Mueller, Director the Botanic Gardens, supplied seed, plants and offered recommendations for the laying of the site. The site was leased at various stages in the 1860s and 1870s for grazing purposes, and used for the dumping of night soil, which was 'deodorised' with coal tar. The gardens were intitially fenced by a three rail timber fence. It was not until the 1890s that the gardens were laid out in earnest, with the construction of picket fencing, a grotto in the southeast corner and widespread planting of trees, particularly elms and oaks. By 1897, the gardens featured 'artistically arranged beds... gay with zinnias and chrysanthemums, but later blooms are now taking their place'. The trees along Hoddle Street frontage were also planted at this time. The park was a focus for the local community, used for band recitals, as well as fetes and sporting activities. In 1907, a community tree planting day effectively ended associations of the park with active recreation. A bandstand was constructed in the centre of the park in 1906. The infant welfare centre was built in the south-east section of the site in 1956, and extended in 1966.

Remnant Fabric (Man Made)

The park is bisected by two diagonal asphalt paths with a basalt edge. A rotunda is located centrally within the park, and is a reconstruction of that built in 1906. A rendered brick substation, constructed in 1911, is located in the north-east corner of the park.

Remnant Fabric (Vegetation)

The site is dominated by mature, decidious trees, namely Elms (Ulmus procera and Ulmus x hollandica) planted along pathways and boundaries. Specimen trees include Plane Trees (Platanus x acerfolius), Monterey pine (Pinus radiata), Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) and Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis). More unusual trees include a mature Jelly Palm (Butia capitata) and Fan Palm (Washingtonia filifera) as well as two trees recorded by the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), and English Elm (Ulmus procera) and Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), both located in the south west section of the gardens. An arc-shaped planting of elms in the western section of the park shows the alignment of an early ornamental walk within the park, which has since been removed.

Statement of Significance

Darling Gardens are locally significant as an early and important recreational facility within the Collingwood and Clifton Hill area. The site has strong associations with the local community, at various times the home to sporting groups and the focus of community activities. The site effectively illustrates its ongoing development since the 1860s, and contains two trees recorded on the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Significant Tree Register.

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees

Category

Urban Park