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Old Pioneers' Memorial, Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne

Gould, Meredith1985

Record details

Title:

Creator:

Gould, Meredith

Date of work:

1985

Reference number:

BIF-CITY 102942 1

Level of description:

Item from Collection: Heritage Collection (HC)

Type of materials:

Graphic materialsTextual material

Part of:

Series: Central City (BIF-CITY)

Access restrictions:

UnrestrictedOpen access.

Use restrictions:

UnrestrictedPlease contact City of Melbourne Libraries about obtaining permission to reproduce images.

General notes:

Style: Gothic revivalPeriod: VictorianConstruction date: 1871Materials: Limestone or sandstone and basaltInscription: To the memory of some of the earliest pioneers of this colony whose remains were interned near this spot.Building contractor: Samuel Craven.ASSOCIATED RESEARCH ADDED BY GRAEME BUTLER:.Monument Australia web site 2021https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/landscape/settlement/display/32400-pioneer-memorialMelbourne Pioneer MemorialPhotographs supplied by Kent WatsonThe monument commemorates the first burial place in Melbourne and the pioneers buried here. It was erected by the Public Works Department in 1871.It was only in 1840 that the Flagstaff Gardens became known as such. Before that the site was known as Burial Hill, and the remains of many of Melbourne's earliest settlers were buried there, the first being a child of James Goodman, who died in 1836. The rapid growth of the settlement soon made this site unsuitable, so burials were discontinued there and in 1838 eight acres situated in Elizabeth street, about where the Victoria Market now stands, were set aside as a cemetery. It was not until March 9, 1870, more than 30 years later, that the graves in the Flagstaff Gardens were marked by anything more impressive than two dead wattle trees enclosed by a ramshackle picket fence.On that date a large cross was cut in the lawns, and a monolith was erected bearing the words - "Erected to the memory of some of the earliest of the pioneers of this colony whose remains were interred near this spot." The nature of this memorial was decided only after considerable controversy. It was originally proposed to enclose the area with stone kerbing and ornamental iron railings, but this would have cost £500, so the monolith, which may still be seen in the Flagstaff Gardens, was selected. The cross cut in the lawns has disappeared.Excerpt from The Argus (Melbourne), 25 December 1920.`Erected MMCCCLXXITo the memory of some of the earliest pioneers of this Colony whose remains were interred near this spot'.City Collection web sitehttps://citycollection.melbourne.vic.gov.au/pioneer-monument/SummaryLocation: Lonsdale and King Sts, Flagstaff GardensA sandstone obelisk. Originally a pointed section was on top, however this has since disappeared.Flagstaff Gardens once had special significance for the people of Melbourne. It was a place of hope and a place of sorrow. Early colonists could sight incoming ships from this high point, which brought tangible links with the old country; and known as Burial Hill, it was also the city's first burial ground. This latter role is reflected well in the Gothic architecture of the memorial, for as if wrested from an English church it is a reminder that this final resting place for an estimated six early settlers is a long way from 'home'.The rapid growth of Melbourne made the site unsuitable as a cemetery, so a new burial ground was established at what is now Queen Victoria Market. Save for two wattle trees, the graves of the first buried went unmarked until 1871. The Department of Public Works then commissioned a sandstone obelisk by Samuel Craven for this purpose, its pointed uppermost section now missing. The memorial was erected in April 1871, and at the time of its unveiling a large cross was cut into the lawns surrounding it. Its inscription reads: 'Erected in 1871/ to the memory of/ some of the earliest of the pioneers of this colony/ whose remains were interred near this spot'..SELBY, ISAAC 1924. THE OLD PIONEERS MEMORIAL HISTORY OF MELBOURNE : 11`The first death was that of Willie Goodman, the little son of James Goodman; the second and third, Charles Franks, and his shepherd; they were both murdered by the natives at Cottrell, near the Werribee. (river) The fourth was a seaman of The Rattlesnake, accidentally shot while landing arms. The fifth was the wife of John Ross, who shot herself in a fit of delirium tremens; and the sixth, the infant child of Mr. Wells. All these are reported to have been buried on Burial Hill, now called the Flagstaff Gardens. A Monument has been erected near the spot, and on it is this inscription:-Erected 1871, to the Memory of some of the Earliest Pioneers of this Colony, whose remains are interred near this spot…'.NEWSPAPERS (TROVE)Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954)Saturday 24 December 1870 - Page 12https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219365567Tenders:Commemorative monument, Flagstaff hill gardens, Melbourne, Sam Craven, £189 10s(Craven was a building contractor of 15 Charles St, Carlton).Victorian Heritage Register Statement of SignificanceVictorian Heritage Register number: H2041What is significant?Flagstaff Hill including the Flagstaff Gardens occupies an elevated position to the north west of Melbourne's CBD. Consisting of 7.7 hectares, it was originally called Burial Hill by the European settlers and was used as Melbourne's first burial ground in the 1830s. Later used as a signal station between 1840 and 1857, and then as a magnetic and meteorological observatory under Professor George von Neumayer between 1857 and 1862, the hill is a significant archaeological site. In 1862 the site was established as a public garden. Designed in an informal gardenesque style by the Deputy Surveyor General Clement Hodgkinson in 1865, and later redesigned by John Guilfoyle in the 1890s, the garden contained numerous trees of scientific and aesthetic importance, many of which remain today. The current appearance of the gardens reflects changes made between the 1890s and the 1920s although the original pathways are still evident as are several of the original tree plantings. Although the character of the gardens has changed since the 1860s, the current appearance reflects a diverse cultural landscape that is rich in horticultural, historic and social meaning.How is it significant?Flagstaff Gardens and Flagstaff Hill are of aesthetic, archaeological, historical, scientific (horticultural) and social significance to the State of VictoriaWhy is it significant?Flagstaff Hill is of historic and scientific importance. Between 1836 and 1837, it was the site of Melbourne's first burial ground. Seven burials took place there and as there is no evidence that the bodies were exhumed the site probably has archaeological potential. Between 1840 and 1857 the site was used as a signal station with flagstaff. It was used to communicate with a similar station at Point Gellibrand at Williamstown. Flags flown from the flagstaff indicated shipping arrivals in the Bay and shipping lists were posted on a bulletin board near the station building. Accordingly the hill was a regular gathering place for Melburnians of all classes. The flagstaff and signal station became redundant following the introduction of the telegraph, however the site was then used as a meteorological and magnetic observatory between 1857 and 1862. Established under the supervision of Bavarian scientist George von Neumayer, the observatory played a significant part in the development of scientific knowledge in the colony. The footings of the signal station and the observatory buildings probably still exist and would be a significant archaeological deposit.The Flagstaff Gardens is of scientific (horticultural) and aesthetic significance. Established as a public garden in 1862, the Flagstaff Gardens was designed in the gardenesque style in 1865 by Assistant Commissioner for Crown Lands and Survey, Clement Hodgkinson. Unlike the Fitzroy Gardens, also designed by Hodgkinson, the Flagstaff Gardens was a more informal style. Its path layout was determined in part by the site's topography but also by the location of the Victoria Market in the north-east corner. Some of the original 1860s path layout remains but the current layout reflects changes made between the 1890s and the 1920s. The central path from the main entrance in William Street to the crown of the Flagstaff Hill has disappeared but most of the path that originally crossed the gardens from the corner of King and Latrobe Streets towards the Victoria Market still exists. None of the original statues exist but there is a sundial from the nineteenth century, albeit whose base was reconstructed in 1947, and a sculpture, The Court Favourite, from the 1930s.There are many fine individual specimens of trees in the gardens including a Holm Oak (Quercus Victorian Heritage Register citation (Victorian Heritage Register H2041)Last updated on - April 1, 2004What is significant?Flagstaff Hill including the Flagstaff Gardens occupies an elevated position to the north west of Melbourne's CBD. Consisting of 7.7 hectares, it was originally called Burial Hill by the European settlers and was used as Melbourne's first burial ground in the 1830s. Later used as a signal station between 1840 and 1857, and then as a magnetic and meteorological observatory under Professor Georg von Neumayer between 1857 and 1862, the hill is a significant archaeological site. In 1862 the site was established as a public garden. Designed in an informal gardenesque style by the Deputy Surveyor General Clement Hodgkinson in 1865, and later redesigned by John Guilfoyle in the 1890s, the garden contained numerous trees of scientific and aesthetic importance, many of which remain today. The current appearance of the gardens reflects changes made between the 1890s and the 1920s although the original pathways are still evident as are several of the original tree plantings. Although the character of the gardens has changed since the 1860s, the current appearance reflects a diverse cultural landscape that is rich in horticultural, historic and social meaning.How is it significant?Flagstaff Gardens and Flagstaff Hill are of aesthetic, archaeological, historical, scientific (horticultural) and social significance to the State of VictoriaWhy is it significant?Flagstaff Hill is of historic and scientific importance. Between 1836 and 1837, it was the site of Melbourne's first burial ground. Seven burials took place there and as there is no evidence that the bodies were exhumed the site probably has archaeological potential. Between 1840 and 1857 the site was used as a signal station with flagstaff. It was used to communicate with a similar station at Point Gellibrand at Williamstown. Flags flown from the flagstaff indicated shipping arrivals in the Bay and shipping lists were posted on a bulletin board near the station building. Accordingly the hill was a regular gathering place for Melburnians of all classes. The flagstaff and signal station became redundant following the introduction of the telegraph, however the site was then used as a meteorological and magnetic observatory between 1857 and 1862. Established under the supervision of Bavarian scientist Georg von Neumayer, the observatory played a significant part in the development of scientific knowledge in the colony. The footings of the signal station and the observatory buildings probably still exist and would be a significant archaeological deposit.The Flagstaff Gardens is of scientific (horticultural) and aesthetic significance. Established as a public garden in 1862, the Flagstaff Gardens was designed in the gardenesque style in 1865 by Assistant Commissioner for Crown Lands and Survey, Clement Hodgkinson. Unlike the Fitzroy Gardens, also designed by Hodgkinson, the Flagstaff Gardens was a more informal style. Its path layout was determined in part by the site's topography but also by the location of the Victoria Market in the north-east corner. Some of the original 1860s path layout remains but the current layout reflects changes made between the 1890s and the 1920s. The central path from the main entrance in William Street to the crown of the Flagstaff Hill has disappeared but most of the path that originally crossed the gardens from the corner of King and Latrobe Streets towards the Victoria Market still exists. None of the original statues exist but there is a sundial from the nineteenth century, albeit whose base was reconstructed in 1947, and a sculpture, The Court Favourite, from the 1930s.There are many fine individual specimens of trees in the gardens including a Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), located on the south side of the William Street entrance, from the first stage of planting in the nineteenth century and which is amongst the largest of the species known in Victoria. There are also significant specimens from the twentieth century including a Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo bilboa) and a Chinese Parasol tree (Firmiana simplex). The Ginkgo biloba is one of the State's finest and largest, and is growing in a prominent position in the garden of the caretakers cottage. The only larger and older Ginkgo biloba in Victoria is in the Geelong Botanic Gardens, which was planted in 1859. The Firmania simplex is rare in Victoria and this tree is also the largest known in the State. As well there are a variety of significant specimen trees including elms, oaks, Moreton bay figs, Canary Island pines and River Red Gums. The Corynocarpus laevigatus is uncommon in Victoria and this tree is the largest known specimen in the State. The two Italian cypresses (Cupressus sempervirens) have important landscape and historical significance due to their association with Melbourne's first cemetery. These trees where commonly planted in cemeteries due to their symbolism.The Flagstaff Gardens is of landscape and horticultural significance due to the avenues of elms (Ulmus procera and U. x hollandica) lining the pathways through the Gardens and elm rows along the north, north east and southern perimeter of the gardens. The elms are common landscape element in all of Melbourne's nineteenth century gardens and boulevards. The trees are numerous and have grown to a large size and are an important feature of the urban character and provide outstanding autumn colour. Melbourne now has some of the finest European elms in the world and these are of increasing international significance as Dutch Elm Disease has killed most of these species in the northern hemisphere. The deciduous elms, poplars and English oaks contrast dramatically with the evergreen conifers, eucalypts, Moreton Bay Figs and palms to provide an outstanding landscape. The two Eucalyptus cladocalyx (Sugar Gum) in the north eastern corner have grown to a great size and are an important landmark in the landscape.Flagstaff Hill also has social significance as place of recreation and celebration. The existence of the various monuments on the crest of the hill reflects the importance of the site in the popular imagination. In addition, the hill was a natural gathering place in the early years of European settlement because of the views it offered over the Bay. Furthermore, with separation from New South Wales in 1850, the hill was a focus of celebrations with bonfires being lit and other festivities taking place there. In 1950 a monument was built to commemorate these original celebrations.The Flagstaff Gardens has been the less respectable component in the city's collection of public parks. Accordingly its social significance is different from the Carlton, Fitzroy or Treasury Gardens. In the 1930s it was observed that if the Fitzroy Gardens was the city's drawing room then Flagstaff Gardens was its kitchen. Earlier in the century it was also perceived to be the most notorious of the public parks as a site for illicit activities. This informality and diversity of public behaviour has distinguished it from other city gardens and also is an important part of its character today. The bowling club, playground and tennis courts contribute to its continuing recreational and informal character. To an extent its character has also been defined by its position on the west side of the city close to the Victoria Market, working class residential areas, industry and Yarra wharves.- See more at: http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/1841#statement-significance

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City of Melbourne

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