Camperdown Botanic Gardens Research Report. Heather Forward

Contents

Abstract 1 Introduction / background 2 Client brief 2 Response to the client brief 3 Scope 3 Aims 3 Methods and Materials 3 Site analysis 3 Physical, historic and cultural site analysis 4 Intuitive site analysis 4 Site analysis map 4 Theme: volcanoes and lakes 4 Exploration of precedents from landscape architecture 6 Critical exploration of design 8 The gardens 8 The Arboretum 11 Discussion and reflection 12 Conclusion 15 Appendix 16 References 20

Abstract University of Melbourne students collaborated with the Camperdown Botanic Gardens Trust to prepare concept designs for a renewed & unified Gardens and Arboretum. Literature reviews explored the historical and cultural context of regional botanic gardens in Australia, with specific reference to the Camperdown Botanic Gardens. Site analyses revealed not only the site characteristics, but also intangible elements and possibilities. Key findings concluded that a/ the views of the volcanic landscape and crater lakes were outstanding, as was the position of the Gardens in this framework; and b/ the connection to William Guilfoyle and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne was strong, and could be drawn upon in a design concept. The theme, ‘Volcanoes and Lakes” (titled: ‘Mountains of Fire’) was therefore chosen as a unifying element for the Gardens and Arboretum. Three precedents were explored around this theme and a concept design for the Gardens and Arboretum developed. The report then drew upon current literature to demonstrate the benefits of refurbished parks for local communities, with flow on benefits in tourist potential.

1 AGRI90070 Project A, Camperdown Botanic Gardens Research Report.

Introduction/Background

The 1.2 hectare Camperdown Botanic Garden (CBG) and the 6.9-hectare Arboretum form part of a 118-hectare allotment reserved in 1869 as the Camperdown Public Park1. In 1889, William Guilfoyle, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne drew up a plan for refurbishments to this Park, and made some suggestions for alterations and plantings for the Gardens. CBG was established in an era of expansion and prosperity, but during the depression, world war and post-war periods it suffered decline and neglect2,3, 4. Since the 1980s, the local community has been seeking ways to restore and upgrade the gardens5. An active Trust group has been formed and has initiated a link with The University of Melbourne6 for input into preparing a new vision for the Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum (CBGA) that will bring it into a new era.

Client brief

During a field trip to Camperdown by the student cohort7, different stakeholders8, 9, 10, 11 expressed their views on the future of CBGA. From listening to these groups, the following client brief was developed:

Within the boundaries of the Heritage Victoria statement of significance, prepare a design concept for CBGA that addresses the following challenges:

• Restore the rotunda. • Reconnect the gardens with the arboretum. • Explore issues around the Caravan Park, access and parking.

1 (Heritage Council, Vic., 2011) 2 (Corangamite Shire, 2013) 3 (Aitken, 2010) 4 (Saniga, 2012) 5 (Corangamite Shire, 2013) 6 (Melbourne, The University of, 2014) 7 (Melbourne, The University of, 2014) 8 (O'Hehir, 2014) 9 (Moorfield, 2014) 10 (Gibb, 2014) 11 (Jelly, 2014)

2 • Provide a venue for community activities. • Enhance Camperdown’s tourist potential through the CBGA.

Response to the client brief

In response to this client brief, priorities were set for resolution. Restoration of the rotunda, reconnection of the Gardens with the Arboretum and issues around the caravan park, access and parking were seen as necessary actions. Provision of a venue for community activities and enhancement of tourism potential through a renewed CBGA were considered as flow-on benefits.

Scope

The scope of this concept design is depicted in the Site Analysis Map (p. 15)* and includes the formal Botanic Garden and the adjoining northeast section of the Arboretum. Sections of the existing caravan park were also reconfigured.

Aims

While keeping within the confines of the Heritage Victoria statement of significance for the CBG12, this concept design aims to:

• Restore the rotunda as a focal point to the gardens landscape. • Unify the gardens and arboretum sites through a common theme, which emphasises the views in the wider landscape of volcanoes and lakes. • Incorporate Guilfoyle’s pathway through the Arboretum to the Gardens main entry point. • Resolve some issues around access, parking and the Caravan Park.

Methods and Materials

Methods included physical and intuitive site analyses (detailed below), leading to the construction of a site analysis map (p. 15)*. From this an overarching theme was developed and explored. Precedents were sought in relation to this theme and included William Guilfoyle’s approach and methods in landscape design, his volcano at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) and the Ian Potter Children’s Garden at the RBG. From this, a concept design was prepared using drawing techniques in pencil, pen and ink, combined with visualizations created in Photoshop using original photographs.

Site Analysis

Physical and intuitive site analyses were undertaken to draw out the site’s positive aspects, potentials, linkages, inspirations, sense of place and points of difference. *p.15 refers to that page in the illustrated portfolio.

12 (Heritage Council, Vic., 2011)

3 Physical, historical and cultural analysis of site

Guidelines from landscape architects Lynch and Hack13 suggest rigorous analysis should be made of the historical, cultural and physical aspects of site. The site’s historical and cultural contexts were examined through a literature review, which may be found at Appendix A. The physical site was explored for soil types, moisture content, topography, climate, slope, orientation and vegetation. Site measurements were also taken using a GPS tracking device to establish accurate positions of pathways and perimeter fence lines. Observations were also made of site usage, but due to the winter season, visitor numbers were low and did not reflect an accurate measure of park visitations.

Intuitive analysis of site

At the other end of the scale, landscape architects such as Gustafson/Porter14 and Charles Jencks15 tend to blur the boundaries between art and landscape in their work, which explores more intangible notions around abstract ideas, metaphors, times and places. This analysis of the more intuitive aspects of site involved reflective time to absorb the ‘feel’ of the place. Stays in the caravan park allowed for extensive exploration across day and night and under different weather conditions. For example, views over Lake Gnotuk were experienced at dusk and at early morning frost on the grass crunched and sparkled. Some personal responses to intangible aspects of site may be found in the section under ‘Intuitive Site Analysis’ and p. 53*.

Site Analysis Map (p. 15 portfolio)

A site analysis map outlined the positives, negatives, practical and intangible possibilities of the site. From this information an overarching theme was selected.

Theme: Volcanoes and craters

The Victorian Heritage16 Council noted two major criteria of significance related to this site. The first and most compelling is the ‘particular aesthetic characteristic’ of its location within the wider volcanic landscape. The Council states: “ The CBG *refers to the section in the portfolio

13 (Lynch and Hack, 1984) 14 (Spens, 2007) 15 (Lincoln, 2011) 16 (Victoria Heritage Council, 2011)

4 and Arboretum are much enhanced by a strategic and dramatic siting high on a cone rising between the twin volcanic crater lakes of Gnotuk and Bullen Merri. The location provides outstanding views from within the gardens over the lakes and basalt plains of the western district”17.

The second criterion was the special connection between William Guilfoyle and the CBG. Guilfoyle’s ‘picturesque’ / ‘gardenesque’ vision for the gardens and the recreational parklands at Camperdown can be seen in his plan and planting designs. Additionally, his travels as a member of a scientific expedition to the South Pacific led to a lifetime fascination for volcanoes and plants of those regions18. At the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne he constructed the volcano/ reservoir at its highest point19 and introduced exotic plantings from those regions to the gardens. There appeared to be an opportunity to draw out this connection through the design concept.

The volcanoes

According to the Mt Leura & Mt Sugarloaf Development Committee20, local Aboriginal legends tell of ‘mountains of fire’ when spectacular volcanoes threw out fountains of scoria froth and occasional large blocks of solid lava or ‘bombs’. “If the exploding magma encountered water near the surface, the explosion was dramatic as the water formed a huge head of steam, which blasted the magma into clouds of ash or tuff onto an outer rim, or maar”21.

The crater lakes

Bullen Merri is a massive 490-hectare lake in a volcanic crater. The cloverleaf shape suggests it was made of two maars joined together. It has a cone- shaped floor around 60 metres deep and is fed by underground springs and direct run off. Lake Gnotuk has a flat floor and is less than 20 metres deep. It has no outlet and evaporation has caused a build up of salinity22.

Nested Maar

The Mt Leura complex is one of the largest maar and tuff rings in Victoria and

17 (Victoria, Heritage Council, 2011) 18 {Saniga, 2012) 19 (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, 1997) 20 (Committee, Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Development, 2014) 21 (Committee, Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Development, 2014) 22 (Geopark, 2014)

5 a rare example of a nested maar. The Victorian Western Volcanic Plains were formed between 2 - 4.5 million years ago, while the Mt Leura nested maar complex is relatively recent at 10,000 - 40,000 years23.

Exploration of Precedents from landscape architecture

In order to develop a method for incorporating the volcano and lakes theme within the CBGA, previous precedents from the literature on landscape architecture were first explored.

Precedent one: William Guilfoyle, and the connection between Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG) and CBGA.

The literature notes William Guilfoyle as a proponent of the ‘picturesque’ and ‘gardenesque’ landscape styles24 of the time. The picturesque style, which appears to be his preference, is a naturalistic (but artistically arranged) landscape style featuring views, lawns and garden beds within a framework of dark-foliaged conifers. Water was always a central feature of this style, while long and short vistas were revealed in small glimpses between trees. In his 1873 report on his vision for the gardens, he wrote:

“One of the great essentials in landscape gardening is the variety of foliage and disposal of trees. Nothing can excel the glimpses afforded by the opening between naturally formed clumps of trees and shrubs, whose height and contrast of foliage have been studied. At every step the visitor finds some new view - something fresh, lively and striking, especially when tastefully arranged”..... “The visitor should see something to remind him that he is not only in a landscape, but also a botanic garden”25 p. 65.

Guilfoyle used some basic methods to achieve his vision for the RBG in Melbourne. He transplanted hundreds of trees taken from von Mueller’s ‘avenues’ and systems layout and replanted them to act as a framework to his design. Trees and shrubs that didn’t fit his vision or that were considered poor specimens were culled and narrow pathways were replaced with broad sweeping walks and lawns. Most notably, he reworked the design in Melbourne to make the lagoon the focus of the gardens26.

23 (Committee, Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Development, 2014) 24 (Morris 2001) 25 (Morris 2001) 26 (Morris 2001)

6 Guilfoyle and the Camperdown Botanic Gardens

In 1889, when Guilfoyle drew up plans for a 292-Acre public park and gardens at Camperdown, he took a similar approach. For the CBGA, he suggested: • to simplify and remove some of the internal pathways. • to cull some excess trees. • to place the gardens within a larger landscaped public park • to construct an access pathway through the Arboretum to the main entry point of the gardens.

The plan for the Public Park indicates a pastoral landscape with ‘islands’ of specified plantings. The planting plan for the formal gardens shows a framework of evergreen pines and cypress, with deciduous specimens, a Linden avenue, sweeping lawns and some mixed garden beds of shrubs and groundcovers. Examination of the planting plan shows dense numbers of trees and shrubs on the northern and eastern sides of the gardens and sparse trees with low-growing under plantings on the southern and western sides. This was presumably to allow for the views. In the notes that accompanied the planting plan, he wrote: “ the plants in the shrubbery excepting a few instances should not grow higher than the fence of the garden.” 27, p.13. There was no rose garden in this original plan and although some Australian native trees were originally recommended, few if any remain.

Precedent Two: Guilfoyle’s volcano at RBG, Melbourne.

In the 1997 RBG, Melbourne Management Plan28, it was recommended to restore Guilfoyle’s volcano/ reservoir, which had fallen into disrepair. This allowed for a contemporary interpretation to be carried out by Andrew Laidlaw et. al. This concept design draws a link between Guilfoyle’s volcano at RBG with a renewed garden design at CBG on a volcanic theme, which includes a revitalised rotunda.

Precedent three: The Ian Potter Children’s Garden at the RBG, Melbourne

An examination of the maps of the RBG, Melbourne29 and the Ian Potter Children’s Garden30 reveals that the shape of the Children’s Garden mimics the overall shape of the Botanic Gardens. Examination of the two layouts also reveals that the Children’s Garden loosely follows that of the wider garden.

27 (Committee, Camperdown Advisory, 2006) 28(Committee, Camperdown Advisory, 2006) 29 (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melb., 2014) 30 (Organisation, Meetoo, 2014)

7 There is the meandering river, a pond with islands, pathways, gates and entry points echoing those in the main garden.

Similarly, this proposal also uses the idea of the ‘wider’ within the ‘smaller’ landscape. Here, the wider landscape around Camperdown and the Gardens has been scaled down and transposed onto the Arboretum space (p.41)*. As shown, the Camperdown/ Cobden Rd fits loosely with Guilfoyle’s pathway that passes through the arboretum to the main entry point of the Botanic Garden.

Critical Exploration of Design

Both the Heritage Register assessment31 and the CBG Management Plan32 of 2006 acknowledge some key positives for the gardens:

• The connection to William Guilfoyle and his design intent for the CBG. • The magnificent views of the volcanic lakes and craters from the gardens • The importance of the rotunda to the gardens design • Potential access to the gardens via the arboretum

The Concept Design: how the Volcanoes and lakes theme was used to unify the Gardens and Arboretum

The Gardens

Guilfoyle’s original planting plan followed a picturesque style using long and short vistas set within a naturalistic framework of evergreen trees and rolling lawns. In keeping with the intent of the original plan, this proposal argues for the removal of the rose garden and circular flowerbed (both of which could be transplanted to another site outside the gardens).

Heritage Council Victoria33 in its report on the significance of CBG, found it was of historic, aesthetic and botanic significance to the state of Victoria and acknowledged the historic significance of the rotunda as a “picturesque, iron observation rotunda built in 1879”34. The Camperdown Advisory Committee Plan 35 goes further to recommend the restoration of the rotunda and in anticipation removed a stand of cypresses and rocks from the location in 2006.

This concept references the surrounding wider volcano and lakes landscape and attempts to draw these into the gardens through a simple dramatic statement. This is done through a return of the rotunda site as a focal point for the gardens. Rather than restoring the Victorian era rotunda, a design, * refers to p. 41 in the portfolio

31 (Victoria, Heritage Register, 2011) 32 (Committee, Camperdown Advisory, 2006) 33 (Heritage Council, Vic., 2011) 34 (Heritage Council, Vic., 2011) 35 (Committee, Camperdown Advisory, 2006)

8 which retains the spirit of the original, but interprets it using contemporary materials and structural methods (as well as current building regulations) is proposed. This is aimed at projecting the gardens into a new phase and considers today’s lifestyle and tourist potentials.

The current oval-shaped garden comprises a gentle hill rising to its highest point at the site of the original rotunda. This rise would be accentuated by creating a small volcanic cone at the highest point. This rise would be approximately three-metres higher than the current ground height. Pathways would be altered to contour the side of the cone, but the encircling established trees would largely remain untouched.

At the top of the cone, an oval-shaped crater would remain containing a shallow ‘lake’ circumnavigated by a 2-metre wide walkway. In the centre of the lake, a revitalised rotunda sits on a small island accessible by stepping- stones. As in the original lookout, a spiral staircase leads to a viewing platform, affording 360-degree views across the gardens and the volcanic landscape and lakes. The building is intended to be light, translucent and almost ‘not there” and is built of stainless steel, safety glass and industrial grating on the upper-level floor through which light filters.

In tribute to Guilfoyle’s ‘volcano’ and to the work of the RBG, Melbourne, a similar ‘lava-flow’ planting erupts from one point on the edge of the crater and flows down the western slope of the garden. Plantings could be referenced to a degree from the Melbourne gardens and their support in sourcing plants might be sought. The connection between Guilfoyle in Camperdown and Guilfoyle at the RBG would thus be drawn.

Major trees remain in situ, but some lesser plantings and shrubs may be moved or regrouped to simplify the design and to maintain Guilfoyle’s picturesque intent. The newly constructed slopes and simplified planting areas define the landscape as a sculptural form.

A more cohesive design is required for understory plantings. It is recommended to commission William Martin (of Wigandia) to supervise the choice and layout of these plantings using low-water-use and shade and wind-tolerant selections36. These would echo those that he used in the main street of Camperdown and thereby draw a link between the town and the gardens.

Breakdown of the Concept design

A breakdown of the Concept design (p. 35 portfolio) shows how the overall site has been broken into four sections including:

• the oval-shaped formal Botanic Gardens, with its crater lake and rotunda focal point.

36 (Martin, 2006)

9 • a triangular-shaped Arboretum Adventure Park, • a circular-shaped picnic area at the Arboretum entrance, • the caravan park was consolidated and slightly reconfigured away from the “Avenue of Oaks” entry way, and • Guilfoyle’s access pathway has been built connecting the Arboretum to the Gardens.

Additional changes to the site landscape

• Inclusion of a small volcanic cone, which includes a shallow crater lake (30 cm deep), to the formal gardens at the location of the old rotunda. • Inclusion of a reconstructed rotunda, sited in the Crater Lake, accessed by stepping-stones. • Inclusion of a ‘lava flow’ garden bed (similar to the beds flanking Guilfoyle’s Volcano at the RBG, Melbourne). This ‘flows’ along the western fence line and oozes out through the gap in the fence at the potting shed. It is a low-height themed planting, which will not impede the views of the lakes. • Inclusion of an Adventure Park recreational space in the Arboretum (described below) • Inclusion of a solar-powered water pump to circulate water between the reservoir and the Crater Lake. • Inclusion of a newly constructed pathway to access the gardens from the lookout and car park at the southern end of the gardens. • Inclusion of several dry stone walls in the design, which are used to breakup the space, but also to evoke the stony rises geology and celebrate the skills of local craftsmen. • Inclusion of hedging plants around the caravan park site, to screen views and provide a windbreak. • Removal of the rose garden and circular flowerbed from the gardens (these may be replanted elsewhere outside the gardens). • Removal of some shrubs, poor specimen trees and understorey plants that impede the views to the south and the west. • Removal of fencing between the caravan park and the Arboretum, and the construction of connecting pathways between these two sections. • Exclusion of grazing cattle from the Arboretum (via an electric fence).

Access and Parking

Access and parking was dispersed to three locations to avoid congestion and physical damage:

• Picnic groups and playground users would enter via the Arboretum entry from Park Road, with parking provided for cyclists and a small number of vehicles. • Botanic Gardens parking would be via a small area adjacent the main garden entrance • Coach and car parking would be located at the southern end lookout car park with access to the gardens via a newly constructed walkway.

10 Caravan Park

The caravan park was considered a potential tourist asset to the site rather than a disadvantage. However, it has been reconfigured to reduce its impact on the gardens by:

• Moving permanent sites away from the main entry road, carefully decompacting the soil around the trees and filling the gaps in the avenue with new plantings of Oaks so that the Botanic Gardens main entry is restored. • Retaining an upgraded toilet block (a shared facility) and the small village of cabins on the southern side of the access road. • Creating another roadway loop and new itinerant sites to the north, encroaching slightly into the Arboretum space, but surrounding this with a hedge planting. • Creating connecting pathways to the Arboretum Adventure Park. • Eliminating the permanent caravan sites (over time) and replacing them with itinerant sites, and where appropriate, cabins.

Concept design: The Arboretum “Adventure Playground”

The Adventure Park was conceived as a recreational facility with possibilities for educational uses around the volcanic-themed landscape.

Following the example used in the Ian Potter Children’s garden at RBG, Melbourne, the larger landscape including lakes Bullen Merri and Gnotuk, Mt Leura and Camperdown were scaled down and transposed within Guilfoyle’s Arboretum.

When this layout is superimposed over Guilfoyle’s original design, one can see that his access pathway through the arboretum to the gardens loosely coincides in the wider landscape with Leura St. and the Camperdown / Cobden Rd.

Initially, when the wider landscape was superimposed on the arboretum space the idea was for ‘lakes’ (or dams) to be sculpted into the landscape. Then, taking into account safety considerations, open water and children, the idea evolved to creating an adventure playground around the volcanoes and lakes theme. This included:

• Two skate parks were devised; one in the clover-leaf shape of Bullen Merri (an advanced skater’s rink) and the other in the oval-shaped Gnotuk (a shallower beginner’s rink).

11 • A ‘volcano’ representing Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf would be sculpted in the landscape close to Guilfoyle’s pathway and overlooking ‘Camperdown’. • The volcano would include a giant slide and possible tunnels though which children might crawl and climb to reach the apex of the volcano. Precedents, such as the Isabella Williams Volcanic Park at Brimbank in Melbourne, could provide further ideas around this theme. • A ‘clock tower’ climbing frame would represent the location of the town of Camperdown in the landscape. • A series of ropes and poles in the formation of the Manifold St. ‘Avenue of Trees’ would create a rope climbing course in the Manifold St/ Princes Highway location. • A cone-shaped mound, atop which sits a treehouse and rotunda, would represent the gardens in its appropriate position between Lakes Bullen Merri and Gnotuk ‘skate parks’. • Appropriate ‘street signage’ would reinforce the theme of the wider landscape within the Arboretum Adventure Park. • Dry stone walls were used to breakup and differentiate the spaces of the Adventure Park and the Entryway Picnic Area.

The Arboretum Entryway as a Picnic Area

The Arboretum entry is to be cleared of debris and excess understory plants. This would allow for a sheltered picnic area easily accessible to parking, with three sets of tables and seating spaced approximately 10 to 20 metres apart from one another under the Oak trees. A curved dry-stone wall would separate this area from the Adventure Playground. Stonewalls are a common and notable feature of the area and echo the nearby stony rises geographical formations.

This proposal recommends the exclusion of cattle from the Arboretum and reservoir via an electric fence. A solar-powered water pump (concealed behind a dry stone wall) could then circulate clean water between the reservoir and the Crater Lake in the Gardens.

Discussion reflection

The Heritage Victoria statement of significance emphasises the need to retain the garden’s existing layout, character and significant botanical plantings. This project added a further layer to this goal in order to unify the Gardens and Arboretum through a common theme.

12 Did the project outcomes satisfy the client Brief?

The client brief had five key requirements, to which responses were made (in priority order) in the concept design.

Restore the rotunda.

The revitalised rotunda atop a ‘volcanic cone’ is a dramatic statement providing a focal point for the gardens. It is contemporary in style but based on the original, emphasising the beautiful spiral staircase. Although it looks ethereal and glasshouse-like, it is in fact robustly built to modern safety and building regulations.

Reconnect the gardens with the arboretum.

In this concept, the CBGA has been reconnected through two devices. These include the use of an overarching theme around volcanoes and lakes, which is played out in different ways in both areas as previously described. Another device was to include the pathway from Guilfoyle’s original design, to converge with the Oak Avenue to a single entry at the main gateway. Visitors are thereby channelled through and under an archway of trees to where the vista opens to a full view of the volcano, atop which gleams the revitalised rotunda.

Explore issues around the Caravan Park, access and parking.

Parking was dispersed to three locations to minimise damage at any one site. Access to the gardens is from two major points, which exploit the views of the new rotunda, while access through the Arboretum via Guilfoyle’s pathway has been addressed.

The caravan park was considered essential to the tourist potential of the area, but required reconfiguration to resolve issues of conflict between it and the gardens. This was achieved through moving part of the site a small distance to the north away from the entry road and the Avenue of Oaks. A new section could possibly be opened up in an area currently within the Arboretum. The cabins were considered unobtrusive in their current location, but it is recommended that over time permanent caravan sites should be eliminated.

Provide a venue for community activities.

With refurbished design, community interest and pride in the gardens should

13 grow37. Enhanced picnic facilities, an adventure playground and renewed rotunda offer potential for community activities38 and it is envisaged that they would draw a younger clientele as well as parents. Spontaneous recreational and formal community activities could include play, markets, concerts, book readings in the gardens and educational tours. With tourist numbers, there is a possible future for a restaurant /café to be built at the lookout point over Lake Bullen Merri.

Enhance Camperdown’s tourist potential.

This concept design attempts to address tourist potential through the use of a Volcanoes and Lakes theme. This emphasises Camperdown’s place in the region’s tourist ‘Geoparks’ initiative through Kanawinka, and enhances it as a destination in its own right. The potential for educational tourism around the volcanoes and lakes theme was also envisaged. Coaches would park at the lookout below the southern end of the gardens and visitors walk the newly built pathway enabling direct access to the Gardens. Approaching a bend in the pathway, a vista of the new volcano and rotunda would appear, enticing a climb to the top floor of the rotunda to see the views of the surrounding volcanoes and lakes. Visitors to the rotunda stand on a constructed cone atop an actual volcanic cone. This fact and others on the theme may be reinforced. Proceeding through the gardens to the Adventure Playground provides an experience of the wider landscape. Appropriate signage for the landmarks would reinforce this idea.

How findings relate to previous knowledge

An examination of past literature supports the proposition that refurbishment of parklands improves both community usage and levels of physical activity. A study by Tester and Baker39 used a rigorous ‘System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities’ (SOPARC) to record activities before and after park improvements and compared these results with an unimproved control park. Significant increases in all levels of activities and usage were recorded in contrast to the control park. Veitch et. al.40 used the same methodology to examine pre- and post- refurbishment activity in a regional park in Victoria in an area of socio-economic disadvantage. Improvements included establishment of walking tracks, a playground, BBQs and landscaping. Three periods of usage were recorded before, immediately after and 12 months later. Significant improvements were recorded and were sustained over the

37 (Veitch et. Al., 2012) 38 (Tester and Baker, 2009) 39 (Tester and Baker, 2009) 40 (Veitch, et. Al., 2012)

14 long term. Golicnik and Ward Thompson41 mapped patterns of behaviour through observation and GPS tracking to establish an evidence base for decisions on spatial design. They were able to establish some relatively universal patterns of human behaviour from their extensive observations. For example, they found that people are attracted to sit along solid edges such as embankments or under shelters such as trees. Large trees or groups of trees could also provide an ‘anchor’ for people to sit against or under in a large field. Comfortable buffer zones between people or groups were found to be around 4-metres, and the minimum buffer space needed between activity groups (in order to maintain long—stay activities) was around 20-metres42. In the Arboretum concept design, these general principles were followed. Activity centres in the adventure park are zoned at least 20-metres apart and away from pathways to allow generous space for participants and sustained activity. The picnic area provides a sheltered shady area under trees with three picnic tables spaced well apart.

Marcus and Francis43 proposed a simple and cost-effective method of activity mapping called “Post-Occupancy Evaluation” (POE) which mapped people’s actual activities at specific locations within parks. Findings from these usage maps provided recommendations for design based on physical evidence. Although this method is considered helpful, it was not used in this study due to seasonal lack of numbers, which would have skewed the results.

What further research is required?

This research was limited to the immediate problems outlined in the client brief. It did not address social issues, such as vandalism or economic issues, such as affordability as these were considered to be beyond the scope of this research. It is however acknowledged that these limitations exist and will need to be addressed. It might be of value to examine how a sense of ownership in a place such as the CBGA, when fostered across the whole community might lead to a reduction in vandalism.

Post-Occupancy Evaluation as outlined by Marcus and Francis (1998), who examine actual patterns of usage over periods during the year could further inform design decisions. But this needs to be done at intervals across the year to be considered valuable.

Further guidance may also be found from examining the initiatives of landscape designers, such as Andrew Laidlaw, who have undertaken revitalisation projects on other regional botanic gardens.

In regard to the Conservation Management Plan, it may be possible to negotiate with The University of Melbourne for a Masters student to undertake the task of preparing a plan (in conjunction with the Corangamite Shire Council) as an “Internship for Land and Environment” credit. This would constitute a considerable saving to the Council.

41 (Golicnik and Ward Thompson, 2010) 42 (Golicnik and Ward Thompson, 2010) 43 (Marcus and Francis, 1998)

15 Conclusion

The Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum has been examined in its historic, cultural and physical context and an overall theme for its unification and revitalisation was formed around volcanoes and lakes. Design precedents were explored for inspiration and a concept design created, which pays tribute to William Guilfoyle and his intentions for CBGA, as well as to the landscape of this unique region of Victoria.

Appendix A.

Camperdown Botanic Gardens: Historical & Social Context

Although forerunners of botanical gardens have existed since the physic gardens of the middle ages, the notion of ‘botanic gardens’ really took hold in the 19th Century in Europe at a time when scientific discovery and colonial expansion, combined with the industrial revolution and a burgeoning middle class were radically changing established society44, 45.

Botanic gardens were originally associated with universities where research was undertaken on plant-based medicines46. The first named ‘botanical garden’ was associated with the University of Padua and built in 1545. This was originally a ‘garden of simples’ (or simple herbs), where medicinal herbs were sourced from all over the world to study their properties47. This early botanical garden was widely emulated across Europe. In 1741, Carl Linnaeus built such a ‘systems garden’ at Uppsala, Sweden, but he also studied the properties of non-medicinal plants. From this initiative the independent science of botany evolved48,49.

It was not until the 1850s however, that the notion of ‘botanic gardens’ really took off worldwide50. The industrial revolution (England, 1780-1840) wrought massive changes in the socio-economic status of common people as farms and manufacturing became mechanized. Its second revolution (from 1850-) bringing steel, electrics, railways and automobiles further changed the face of society in both England and its colonies. The industrial revolution provided opportunities for wealth creation amongst the working classes, which brought about the rise of the middle class in England and Scotland51. Seeking the promise of a new life and prosperity, many of these became free settlers or civil servants in the Australian colony from the 1820s onwards52.

44 (Benfield, 2013) 45 (Tait, 1980) 46 (Benfield, 2013) 47 (Padua, University of, [2014]) 48 (Benfield, 2013) 49 (Padua, University of, [2014]) 50 (Benfield, 2013) 51 (Wilde, [2014]) 52 (Morris, 2004)

16 John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843), a highly influential British landscape designer and writer, coined the term ‘gardenesque’ in 183253. The style was smooth and graceful, with circular beds featuring separated specimen plants, surrounded by lawns. William Hooker incorporated these ideas at Kew Gardens, which later became the blueprint for botanic gardens around the world54. Sir Charles Moore modelled the Sydney Botanic Gardens and Centennial Park on the gardenesque style, as did George Francis at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. William Guilfoyle redesigned the Melbourne Botanic Gardens in the 1870s when he took over their management from the botanist von Mueller, combining both ‘picturesque’ and ‘gardenesque’ elements in the design55.

Colonial expansion

The period of colonial expansion was marked by great prosperity. The nationalism of the time was expressed in the colonies, in civic pride and the building of (often grand) community infrastructures56. Such colonial spirit was seen not only in the major cities, but also in the regions and towns, where communities were established on rich farming land taken from the local aboriginal peoples57.

Camperdown town and botanic gardens

Camperdown was a perfect example of the boom of regional prosperity that occurred between the 1830s -1900. Here was ‘free’ land, rich soils and opportunity to make something of life. A timeline of the settlement of Camperdown and its botanic garden outlining their intertwined boom and bust periods58 is shown below (Table 1). Social change wrought by depressions, wars, loss of population and services has impacted on the garden’s relevance and use59. Currently, an improvement in prosperity through tourism, social resilience, community cohesion and intelligent vision is fostering new momentum60, 61.

The Gardens

Daniel Bunce laid out the original plan for Camperdown Botanic Gardens (CBG) in 1870, following the gardenesque blueprint. In the 1880s, Guilfoyle simplified this layout, placing it within the larger, more picturesque context of a 292-acre parkland and arboretum62.

53 (Tait, 1980) 54 (Tait, 1980) 55 (Royal Botanic Gardens, Melb., 1997) 56 (Saniga, 2012) 57 (Aitken, 2010) 58 (Corangamite Shire, 2013) 59 (Corangamite Shire, 2013) 60 (Committee, Camperdown Advisory, 2006) 61 (Corangamite Shire, 2013) 62 (Victoria, Heritage Council, 2011)

17 Table 1: Camperdown Township & Botanic Gardens Timeline

1839- 1850 Squatters and pastoralists arrived. Manifolds settle Purrumbete. 1851 Original Timboon settlement moved to higher ground. Gold rush began 1852 New town site surveyed 1854 Camperdown named by Governor Charles La Trobe 1860-1861 Land subdivided and sold. Population grew to 415 in 1861 1863 Post & Telegraph Office established 1869 Site for Botanic Gardens & Arboretum reserved. 1873 Plan for 3-acre enclosure (layout $ cost) completed. Paths laid out. Local MP lobbied for funding. Trees procured and planted 1874-1876 Over 300 trees planted and nursery established. Formal layout plans prepared, including driveway, horse ‘parking’ and rotunda. 1877 Public Park Committee sought quotes for rotunda from 2 architects 1878 Hamilton’s quote accepted. W. Hutchinson (Melb) commissioned for iron work. McCrea & Fullerton commissioned to build 1879 Rotunda completed. Land permanently reserved by Board of Land & Survey 1880 Caretaker’s cottage completed. 1880s William Guilfoyle prepared plans for the gardens and arboretum. Advised the removal of some internal pathways and excess trees. 1883 Robbie Burns statue donated by W.A Taylor and erected in park 1883-1909 Railway arrived. Station built. Shire Hall, Courthouse, State Scholl, Mechanics Institute, Butter Factory, clocktower, Leura Hotel established & erected, electric light turned on. 1911 Pre-war population recorded at 3,473. New hospital built. 1914-1918 Huge upheaval in society. Loss of youth. Population declined 1929-1932 Great Depression 1933 Population recorded as having declined to 3029 1939-1945 Further upheaval. Gardens neglected & decline in amenity. 1950- Reestablishment of life after the war years. Prosperity and optimism. Population starts to grow again. Start of the baby boom era. 1950- Changing leisure and recreation patterns (proliferation of cars, travel, caravanning) caused further decline in garden use 1960 Caravan Park established. Rotunda demolished. 1977- Less intensive farming and youth out-migration eroded population

1985 R. Aitken commissioned for recommendations on the restoration & reconstruction of the rotunda. Craig Wilson made drawings and plans for restoration of Picnic shelter and Potting shed 1990s Kennett Government cuts to services and employment. Decline in socioeconomic profile and population. Abbattoirs, Bonlac and clothing manufacturers closed 1994 Corangamite Shire established under council amalgamations. 1996 Aust Garden History Society tour (150th RBG anniversary). “Flora for Victoria” (commemorating Von Mueller) donated 56 rare plants to Camperdown Botanic Garden. 2004- Rebuilding & renewal in township. New supermarket. Natural gas. New operating wing for hospital. New sports stadium. Camperdown Cheese factory and new shire offices established. 2004-2005 Dilapidated fences replaced with rabbit proof cyclone fencing 2005 Restoration of picnic shelter completed. New bins and seats. 2006 Camperdown Botanic Advisory Committee prepared the “Camperdown Botanic Gardens Management Plan” 2009 Robbie Burns statue vandalized and removed for renovation 2013 “Imagining Camperdown” recorded town priorities for development for 2013- 2023. Restore Botanical garden scored 4th priority overall. 2014 Camperdown Botanic Gardens Trust initiative for revitalization.

18 Camperdown Botanic Gardens: Physical context

The garden is sited on a saddle between two volcanic lakes (maars) 63. These lakes (Bullen Merri and Gnotuk) are of state significance, as is the nested maar at Mt. Leura64.

The existing gardens

Observations within CBG show many intact trees in moderate condition, while those in the arboretum show some neglect and physical damage. Certainly, these trees need to be assessed by an experienced arborist and a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) for the combined sites completed.

To the outside observer, the CBG design has become somewhat piecemeal, due to ad hoc plantings of understory beds and perhaps a lack of vision for the entire design. There are some maintenance intensive aspects, such as the rose garden and circular flowerbeds. Overall, the gardens appear very like other regional botanic gardens across the state and do not demonstrate any ‘point of difference’ or take advantage of the views and landscape context. Like similar regional gardens, Camperdown demonstrates a move away from scientific plantings to a more recreational space65.

63 (Victoria, Heritage Council, 2011) 64 (Planisphere, 2013) 65 (Pascoe, 2012)

19 References

Aitken, R. 2010. The garden of ideas: four centuries of Australian style. Carlton, Vic.: Miegunyah Press. Benfield, R.W. 2013. Garden tourism. Oxfordshire, UK.: CABI International. Committee, Camperdown Botanic Gardens Advisory. 2006. Camperdown Botanic Gardens management plan. Camperdown, Vic. Committee, Mt Leura and Mt Sugarloaf Development. 2014. "Geology - the rock'n roll of it!". http://www.mtleura.org.au. Corangamite Shire, Victoria. 2013. Imagining Camperdown: community priorities for township development 2013 to 2023. Camperdown, Vic. Geopark, Kanawinka Global. 2014. "Lakes and craters precinct: Lake Bullen Merri." Gibb, I. 2014. "Council and Planning Department perspectives." Golicnik, B. and Ward Thompson, C. 2010. "Emerging relationships between design and use of urban park spaces." Landscape and urban planning 94:38-53. Heritage Council, Victoria. 2011. "Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum: statement of significance." Heritage Victoria. Jellie, P. . 2014. "Trust Chair perspective." Lincoln, F. 2011. The universe in the landscape: landforms by Charles Jencks. London: Frances Lincoln Ltd. Lynch, K. and Hack, G. 1984. "Site." In Site planning. Cambridge, Mass. : MIT Press. Marcus, C.C. and Francis, C. 1998. "Post-Occupancy Evaluation." In People and places: design guidelines for urban space. Berkeley, CA.: University of California. Martin, W. 2006. "Towards a water efficient garden." Your Garden (Summer):134--138. Melbourne, The University of. 2014. "Master of Urban Horticulture." https://graduate.science.unimelb.edu.au/master-of-urban-horticulture. Moorfield, G. 2014. "Community perspectives." Morris, C. 2004. "The diffusion of useful knowledge: John Claudius Loudon and his influence in the Australian colonies." Garden History 32 (1):101-123. Morris, D. 2001. Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin. O'Hehir, J. 2014. "Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum Trust's Project background." Organisation, Meetoo. 2014. "Map of the Ian Potter Children's garden at the RBG, Melbourne." meetoo.com.au. Padua, University of. [2014]. "Botanical Garden of Padova - Brief history." http://www.ortobotanico.unipd.it/en/botanical_garden.html. Pascoe, G. 2012. Long views and short vistas: Victoria's nineteenth-century public botanic gardens. Melbourne: Australian Scholarly Publishing. Planisphere. 2013. "1.3 Volcanic Lakes." In South West Victoria Landscape Assessment Study. Melbourne: Planisphere. Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 1997. Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne: Master plan. South Yarra, Vic.

20 Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne. 2014. "Map of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne." http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au. Saniga, A. 2012. Making landscape architecture in Australia. Sydney, NSW: University of NSW Press. Spens, M. 2007. "Site/Non-site: extending the parameters in contemporary landscape." Architectural design. Tait, A.A. 1980. "Loudon and the return to formality." In John Claudius Loudon and the early nineteenth century in Great Britain, edited by E.B. McDougall. Washington DC: Dumbarton Oaks. Tester, J. and Baker, R. 2009. "Making playfields even: evaluating the impact of environmental intervention on park use and physical activity." Preventative Medicine 48:316-320. Veitch, J. et. al. 2012. "Park improvements and park activity: a natural experiment." American Journal of Preventative Medicine 42 (6):616-619. Victoria, Heritage Council. 2011. Decision of the Heritage Council: Camperdown Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, 220 Park Road, Camperdown. Victoria. Wilde, R. [2014]. "The Industrial Revolution - an overview." http://europeanhistory.about.com/od/theindustrialrevolution/p/OverIn dRev.htm.

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