Treasury Gardens

The Treasury Gardens consist of 5.8 hectares (14.4 acres) on the south-eastern side of the Melbourne Central Business District, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The gardens are bounded by Wellington Parade, Spring Street, Treasury Place, and by the Fitzroy Gardens across Lansdowne street to the west. They form part of a network of city gardens including Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens, Flagstaff Gardens and Kings Domain. The gardens are listed on the Victorian Heritage list for their historical, archaeological, social, aesthetic and scientific (horticultural) importance for its outstanding nineteenth century design, path layout and planting.

The Gardens are a short walk from Victoria’s Parliament House and are overlooked by the old Treasury buildings, and State Offices. They create a landscaped setting for office workers to enjoy during lunch with large areas of lawn and walking paths lined with mature trees. Due to their central location close to the city, they are a popular spot as the starting or ending point for political rallies, demonstrations and festivals. The gardens are also enjoyed by business people and tourists staying at the Hilton Hotel on Wellington Parade, who are able to wander through on their way to the city.

The Victorian heritage listing says "Fitzroy is unique in comparison for it’s scale and uninterrupted landscape. There are some horticultural similarities between Fitzroy and the Treasury Garden, attributed to the initial work of Clement Hodgkinson, however Fitzroy Gardens is unique due to the layering of history and mosaic of different landscaping styles. The avenues of mature Elms and Moreton Bay fig are some of the best tree lined avenues in Victoria."

Mature tree species include Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), English Elm (Ulmus procera), White Poplar (Populus alba), Dutch Elm (Ulmus x hollandica), Dutch Elm (small-leaved form), Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa), Platanus x acerifolia]], Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur), Agonis flexuosa, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia robusta, Butia capitata, Chamaerops humilis, River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Brachychiton x roseus, and Grevillea (Grevillea hilliana). Along the embankment of Treasury Place there are hydrangeas, ivy and flax. The gardens are highly populated with the native common brushtail possums many of which are tame and accustomed to people petting them.

The gardens contain an ornamental pond and a number of memorials:

  • Sir William John Clarke Memorial. Marble bust, circa 1902, located by the Treasury building. Erected by public subscription and unveiled by the Governor of Victoria on 22 July 1902.
  • Robert Burns Memorial. Bronze replica sculpture by G.A. Lawson of an original erected in the poet's birthplace of Alloway in Scotland. Commissioned by the Caledonian Society in Melbourne, and first erected in St Kilda Road in 1904, and moved to the Treasury Gardens in 1970 due to roadworks.
  • President John F. Kennedy Memorial. Bronze bas-relief by sculptor Raymond B. Ewers. Erected in 1965 and located beside the specially landscaped pond and water fountain.

History

  • 1850s - The area of the gardens was left as open space after failure to sell allotments due to the swampy nature of the land.
  • 1867 - Clement Hodgkinson designed the Gardens as a pattern of diagonally crossing paths lined with trees. Willow trees were planted around an ornamental pond.
  • 1902 - William Guilfoyle, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne transforms the ornamental pond into a Japanese Garden. This garden is demolished after the Second World War.
  • 1934 - Treasury Gardens was used by the community to celebrate Victoria’s centenary
  • 1939 - Toilet block built for the Spring Carnival and floral festival. Acknowledged as being of architectural importance for its uncommon art deco design, decorative pattern brick and tile construction and extensive use of wrought iron detailing, including grills, gates, lamps, signs and brick planter, exhibiting outstanding craftsmanship.
  • 1965 - Monument was erected to the American President, John F Kennedy
  • 1996 - Fitzroy and Treasury Gardens Master Plan was adopted by Council

External links

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
Adrian Bole
14 September 2011
If you work at the top end of Collins st, get off the train at jolimont in the morning and walk through the park to work. Great way to start the day.
Sigrid de Castella
27 November 2013
Lots of possums even during the day. Check the hole in the tree opposite Parliament buildings, half way along near the stairs
Sigrid de Castella
1 December 2013
Don't forget to check out the JFK Memorial and keep a look out for baby ducklings
Pedro Merces
4 December 2016
Lots of great little 'secret' chillin' spots to discover.
Jeff Weinstein
14 December 2014
Sit on a bench and watch some ducks!
Mirkku
21 February 2012
Go for a night walk to see big bats and possums.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
7.9/10
@Taiga and 27,723 more people have been here
Map
18 Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia Get directions
Sun 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Mon 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tue 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
Wed 8:00 AM–11:00 PM
Thu 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Fri 8:00 AM–10:00 AM

Treasury Gardens on Foursquare

Treasury Gardens on Facebook

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
[Marina Tower]HFN Melbourne WATERFRONT 2BR Apt

starting $142

Cozy home

starting $118

[Waterside]HFN -Melbourne Cityview 2BR Apt/CEAD

starting $139

The Town Apartments

starting $124

Causeway Inn On The Mall Hotel

starting $74

Mantra City Central

starting $127

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Cooks' Cottage

Cooks' Cottage (also known as Captain Cook's Cottage) is located in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne

St Patrick's Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Palace Theatre, Melbourne

The Palace Theatre (also known as The Palace), is an entertainment

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Princess Theatre, Melbourne

The Princess Theatre is a 1488-seat theatre in Melbourne, Australia.

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Forum Theatre

The Forum Theatre (formerly known as the 'State Theatre') is a theatre

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne

Her Majesty's Theatre is a 1,700 seat theatre in Melbourne's East End

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Federation Square

Federation Square (also colloquially known as Fed Square) is a

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Australian Centre for the Moving Image

The Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) is a

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Itasca State Park

Itasca State Park is a state park in Minnesota, United States, and

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Carlton Gardens, Melbourne

The Carlton Gardens is a World Heritage Site located on the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Independence Rock (Wyoming)

Independence Rock is a large granite rock, approximately 130 feet

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Obsidian Cliff

Obsidian Cliff, also known as 48YE433, was an important source of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
National Garden of Athens

The National Garden (formerly the Royal Garden) (Greek: Εθνικός Κήπος)

See all similar places