Pics from the Past | Shepparton’s Queen’s Gardens part one

By Geoff Allemand

Sep 10, 2023

Looking back: Queen’s Park postcard. Source: Bev Thorn

Postcard: Queen’s Gardens postcard 1935. Source: Shepparton Heritage Centre

Last week, I had the great pleasure of speaking at the Mooroopna and District Garden Club’s north-west region meeting, which included garden clubs from the Goulburn Valley and further afield from Bendigo and Swan Hill.

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They did not recruit me to talk about gardening as I am no green thumb but to share some old photos and talk about Lost Shepparton and other “Lost” Facebook pages I have created over the years.

My introduction included photos of the Queen’s Gardens in Wyndham St, Shepparton, bordered by Nixon and Welford Sts.

In the early 1880s, our gardens were known as the ‘public garden reserve’ and were in desperate need of some attention.

It was noted in the 1886 Shepparton Shire Council minutes: “That immediate action be taken towards having the public garden reserve, opposite the Shire Hall levelled, sown with suitable grass seeds, and enclosed” (Shepparton Advertiser and Moira and Rodney Farmers’ Chronicle).

In early 1887, further planting was organised and much discussion about the coming celebration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in Shepparton in June 1887.

It was decided that the public garden would have more trees and plants planted, an ornamental fountain added and it would be called Queen’s Park in recognition and celebration of the Queen’s long reign.

On the celebrated day, there was also a bonfire in the newly-named Queen’s Park.

By 1888, it was more commonly called Queen’s Gardens and, over the years, it had been sadly neglected.

In the early 1900s, George Florance was given the job of curator.

In 1924, Mr Felstead was given the job of gardener for two days a week.

In 1929, Mr Felstead was very critical of the state of the gardens before he was given the job and sent a letter to the editor (as shown here).

Next week, I will continue the story of the gardens with more photos and write about the bowling green and the monkey zoo, both of which attracted much adoration and protest.