The Fitzroy Gardens are 26 hectares located on the southeastern edge of the Melbourne Central Business District in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gardens are bounded by Clarendon Street, Albert Street, Lansdowne Street, and Wellington Parade with the Treasury Gardens across Lansdowne street to the west. The gardens are one of the major Victorian era landscaped gardens in Australia and add to Melbourne's claim to being the garden city of Australia. Set within the gardens are an ornamental lake, a scarred tree, a visitor information centre and cafe, a conservatory, Cooks' Cottage, tree-lined avenues, a model Tudor village, a band pavilion, a rotunda, the "Fairies' Tree", fountains and sculptures.
Horticulture
The most notable feature of the Gardens is the trees that line many of the pathways. The land was originally swampy with a creek draining into the Yarra River. The gardens were initially designed by Clement Hodgkinson and planted by park gardener, James Sinclair, as a dense woodland with meandering avenues. The creek was landscaped with ferns and 130 willows, but that did not stop it smelling foul from the sewage from the houses of East Melbourne. The creek was used for irrigation of the western side of the gardens for fifty years. In the early 1900s the creek water substantially improved when sewerage mains were installed to the residences of East Melbourne. In the early years quick growing blue gums and wattles were planted to provide wind breaks. Elm trees were planted to create avenues along pathways, which unknowingly created a pattern in resemblance to the Union Flag. Clement Hodgkinson described the landscaping design: During the 1880s and 1890s many of the blue gums were removed to create more room for existing trees, as well as sweeping lawns and ornamental flowerbeds. Sub Tropical planting became a feature of the Gardens with the creation of new planting in areas like the Mound and the Grey Street Walk. Further major changes occurred in the 1930s and 1940s with the establishment of the Conservatory and the arrival of Cooks' Cottage in the Gardens. In 2014 an area previously used for depot activities was re- claimed as garden space and features a major stormwater harvesting system, a café and visitor centre which provides tourism information about Melbourne as well as specific information and services for Cooks' Cottage and Fitzroy Gardens.
A scarred tree in the gardens has been preserved. The plaque at the bottom of the tree reads:
Wildlife
The gardens are home to brushtail and ringtail possums, rainbow lorikeets, ducks and microbats. They are visited at night by grey-headed flying foxes and powerful owls. The presence of Australian wildlife make the city gardens especially enjoyable for overseas visitors and locals alike.
1857 James Sinclair appointed head gardener, and worked in the gardens until his death in 1881.
1860 responsibility for Fitzroy Gardens taken over by the Lands Department. Clement Hodgkinson, the head of the Lands Department, takes a detailed interest in the planning and development of the city parks, including Fitroy Gardens.
1862 Path network established and band pavilion built
1864 Sinclair's Cottage and Small Tudor style gate keepers lodge built
1873 Neo-classical rotunda "Temple of Winds" built
1880 Removal of many Blue Gums
1890 Every alternate Elm tree on Avenues removed
1901 Nursery and stable yard transferred from centre of gardens to present site
1908 timber style Kiosk opened
1915 External picket fence replaced by stone edging
1917 Control of gardens passed onto City of Melbourne
1927 Plant Managers house built
1930 Conservatory for displaying glass-house plants opened
in the Fitzroy Gardens.
1934 Cooks' Cottage erected after being bought, shipped to Australia, and donated by the Grimwade family. Artist Ola Cohn completes carving the Fairies Tree and donates it to the children of Melbourne.
1960 Kiosk damaged by fire
1960s Central section of creek piped underground
1964 New kiosk opened
1970s Eighteenth Century Cottage garden added to Cooks' Cottage
