NEXT year one of Wagga’s premier green spaces turns 50, and the museum is working to unearth its history in preparation of that auspicious anniversary.
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In 1968 the city officially opened its Botanic Gardens, which would transform the slopes of Willans Hill into the stately gardens that are enjoyed by so many today.
Wagga’s Parks and Gardens curator Tom Wood had been preparing the site for seven years, overseeing landscaping and the planting of over 600 plant species on the nine-hectare site.
Since then the gardens have been a labour of love for Wagga Wagga City Council, and the thousands of volunteers who have contributed to countless expansions and improvements over the years.
Museum staff are trawling through old records to capture the history of Wagga’s Botanic Gardens, including events that have taken place there, famous visitors, and most importantly some stories about the plants themselves!
Elsewhere, a small brass plaque under a Jacaranda tree reveals that it was planted by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam during a visit in 1974.
The gargantuan bamboo patch, host to many a game of hide-and-seek, began its life as an 18 inch clump of shoots, donated from the gardens in Albury.
While in 1961, the store manager of Wagga Wagga’s David Jones store – the company’s first outside of Sydney – contributed more than 800 rose bushes in honour of the company’s late chairman, who had died tragically that year. These comprise the garden’s glorious rose garden, which delights visitors to this day.
A lifelong advocate of the gardens, Tom Wood organised many tree planting events, and ensured that every councillor planted a tree. He would update councillors about how their tree growing and how tall it was. In an interview before he died, Tom recounted how fortunate he had been to have the support of council and the community. To ensure that the modest beginnings of the Botanic Gardens are remembered, Museum of the Riverina are asking you to share with us your recollections.
There are many mysteries to solve too. For example, it is said that a Pine tree, descended from the famous Gallipoli ‘Lone Pine’ was planted somewhere on Willans Hill. Do you know its location?
If you know something about a tree that was planted or an event that took place, we want to hear from you. If you can send us copies of photographs taken in the gardens from an earlier time, we’d love to see them. Send your memories to leah.sam@wagga.nsw.gov.au.
