The newsletter of the Sydney & Northern New South Wales branch of the Australian Garden History Society BRANCH CUTTINGS Issue 47 - June 2015 This branch is affiliated with the Royal Australian Historical Society & National Trust of Australia (NSW) The Evolution of a Garden: The AGHS–Northern NSW Sub-branch Heritage Rose Project at Saumarez Homestead The evolution of this place where it could garden began with one be admired and learnt woman ’s passion for roses from and she readily and her generosity in agreed. Catherine ’s sharing them with the generous donation of public. Miss Catherine heritage roses led to MacLean has been a liaison between the gardener all her life but it AGHS and the wasn ’t until later in life National Trust of that collecting members of Australia to provide a the rose family began and home in the former she filled her small city orchard at Saumarez block with over one Homestead . Ian thousand roses. Telford ’s design for Catherine says, the garden, A friend brought me a rugosa and that ’s when it comprising a series of concentric beds divided by started. I became aware that there were roses both radial and concentric paths were marked out other than hybrid teas. Then Rumsey ’s Rose to form the basis of a garden of 44 beds. A series Nursery in Sydney, which was actually closing, of well-attended weekend working bees saw a sent me a “mystery box” of roses that they representational ‘orchard ’ planted with flowering thought I might be interested in and so my fruit trees, donated by members, to recognise past fascination began. use of the land at Saumarez . Rose garden beds Over the years she has continued to build her were spade-edged from the original lime marking collections of roses and her garden became an and many loads of mulch provided by Armidale amazing mix of all the members of the rose Dumaresq Council were spread. family. Catherine explains, Roses began to be relocated from Catherine It was my natural instinct to make each family as MacLean ’s garden after the layout of the beds was complete as I can make it – to have a complete finalised. An enthusiastic group of AGHS collection, much like stamp collecting. Each one is ‘rosebuds ’ worked tirelessly identifying, lifting different and has its particular endearing and re-locating roses to Saumarez. Unseasonal heat in 2013, brought a premature halt to further properties and I love to see them happy, healthy relocation. Nevertheless, working bees continued and flowering. coping with weeds, rabbits and very dry conditions When it got to the point and, by the end of that there was just no spring, the garden was more room it was about 30% planted. A suggested to Catherine Heritage Rose Garden that she might like to Sub-committee was have her collection formed at the end of 2013 . housed in a public Rose Garden panorama This committee ’s first Continued on page 8 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Our next Sydney event is 21st June - a walk looking at tree renewal and management in our oldest park, Hyde Park , in a fascinating ½ day tour.with Susan Lymbery, Sydney City Council Tree Management Coordinator . Richard (Dick) Clough RIP was for a long time an AGHS member, educator and landscape architect. The Institute of Landscape Architects, NSW have posted a video of his last interview with Adrian Pilton of Johnson Pilton Walker on 26th November 2014 (he passed away on the 4th December). You can see it online at: http://aila.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMjY3OTIzJnA9MSZ1PTUwNzg1MjQ1MCZsaT04Mzg4NDk5/index.html Colleeen Morris will be giving a very personal view of the contribution of Richard Clough to Australian garden history when she speaks at the AGM in August in her talk A love of landscape and libraries . In April Sydney members enjoyed a great wander sampling pleasures of Ashfield Park and Haberfield in the inner west. Great to see the park pulsing with Punjabi rhythms of a wedding in full swing! Subdivided estates became the garden suburb Haberfield retaining traces of early spaciousness and plantings. Some of the rarities of Yasmar’s shrubberies impressed and we were lucky to have Richard Stanton, grandson of Haberfield’s mentor and developer namesake and his daughter, landscape architect & AGHS member, Annabel Murray, along with us. The National Management Committee and our Branch are sponsoring publications to accompany two exciting 2016 exhibitions planned for Sydney. One is in late 2016 at the State Library of NSW, Garden Making in Australia , featuring the library’s rich collections and celebrating 200 years of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . Richard Aitken is curating the exhibition and parallel publication. Equally anticipated is the early-mid 2016 exhibition at the Museum of Sydney and its publication that Colleen Morris is curating, of botanical artworks from The Florilegium at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney , celebrating this same bicentenary. These are works by invited botanical artists highlighting key plants from that garden’s collection, arranged to tell its history. Both exhibitions note the development of RBG Sydney, its influence on gardens, parks and landscapes. The branch will partner in garden-themed activities with Sydney Living Museums and the Library. We relish the opportunities to present great talks and guided tours for members and all who might be interested: block out your diaries. Recent NSW State Heritage Register listings and proposals include some gardens /landscapes: Lyons House (the sole Robin Boyd-designed house in NSW, with (equally rare) 1967 Bruce Mackenzie-designed landscape setting, in Port Hacking (Dolan’s Bay); Oran Park Estate (part), Oran Park Drive (former Cobbitty Road), Oran Park; St. Mary & St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral group , Armidale (facing Central Park and including 2 Himalayan cedars with bishops buried beneath them and a large Bunya pine); Waratah Park , Duffys Forest, Warringah where TV show ' Skippy the Bush Kangaroo ' was set and filmed 1967-1969; Also proposed for state-listing is a view-shed: Brett Whiteley house and studio (and their harbour view/vista), Lavender Bay – the source of so many of his paintings and inspiration. The Branch maintains advocacy, recently writing: Objecting to rezoning the former 1810s farm of Varroville , Campbelltown – with owners negotiating with the Catholic Church to rezone for a new cemetery to completely surround Varroville house and garden – in an urban landscape of marble and granite; Objecting to the North Parramatta Urban Activation Precinct master plan, which will wrap Cumberland Hospital , the Norma Parker Centre, Kamballa , the Roman Catholic Orphan School and Parramatta Park’s north-east with towers to 30 storeys and scant detail on integrated management; Liaising with the National Trust (NSW) and others on a proposed ‘Chelsea Flower Show’ scale event in Wistaria Gardens or adjacent Parramatta Park ; Critiquing a master plan to grow University of Sydney Darlington & Camperdown campus; Opposing aspects of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney & Domain’s first Master Plan; Providing information on Paul Sorensen nursery site, Leura to a fledgling friends’ group; Encouraging heritage listing of a war memorial planting of cypress pines at Brunswick Heads. A recent discovery is Darlington micro-cafe near Sydney University, 28 Acres Cafe - named after the grant given Thomas Shepherd, our first nurseryman, and his Darling Nursery. On the corner of Boundary St. and Ivy Lane (local streets take plant names commemorating this nursery) - it’s well worth seeking out: www.twenty8acres.com.au This is my last Chair’s report (before the AGM) after a 3rd and an exceptional, sanctioned 4th term: 12 years all-up. It’s been a pleasure working with the 2 committees’ members with diverse skills and backgrounds. Great to help organise, influence and enjoy events of all kinds, all over mid & northern NSW. I’ve enjoyed putting out feelers to partner bodies and groups, giving talks on AGHS to university students, garden clubs, professional and other groups like the 20th Century Heritage Society of NSW. Fun to see members exploring country gardens (Hunter, Bathurst, Wentworth Falls), embarking on oral histories of key garden makers, starting a new heritage rose garden (open this spring!) at Saumarez , Armidale. Proud to enjoy a stand-out conference in Armidale in 2013 (thanks northerners!), to put some seed money to see good conservation projects happen, including the two 2016 exhibition publications to come. There’s more to do of course. I’ll remain a keen member but am relishing a bit of potential spare time. The committee is in strong, capable hands and I encourage you to get in touch: we are stronger and better with your feedback and ideas: don’t be shy! Ways of involving potential new members, widening our reach and message are welcome. Let us know. Thanks to all! Stuart Read. Tel: 9326 9468 or email: stuart1962@bigpond.com NEW MEMBERS The Branch would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new local members: Janet Bate, Kerry Klemens, Cathy Offord, Gary Palmer, Susan Rushforth, Ann Snape, Yolande Stone and Tony Walker 2 AGHS FORTHCOMING EVENTS JUNE Date: Sunday 21st June - 1.30 pm - 4 pm Event : Hyde Park walk looking at the history and management of its significant trees with Susan Lymbery, Sydney City Council Tree Management Coordinator Venue: Address and directions to be advised on booking Cost: Members $20 Guests $25 includes light refreshments. Bookings essential. More details on Page 6 JULY Date : Thursday 30th July - 6pm for 7pm - 8.30pm. Event: Illustrated talk War Grave Gardens in Perpetuity by Andrew Prowse and Kim Morris Venue: Annie Wyatt Room, National Trust Centre, Observatory Hill. Cost: Members $20 Guests $30 includes light refreshments. Bookings essential. More details on Page 5 AUGUST Date : Wednesday 19th August - 6pm for 7pm - 8.30pm Event: AGM followed by a talk A love of landscape and libraries -Richard Clough (1921-2014), collector and historian by Colleen Morris which will be a very personal view of the contribution of Richard Clough to Australian garden history through his love of books and history.
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