Friends of the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens
GARDENS WALK

A.

Bridge and Lake

The lake was completed in 1885 and features two islands; one containing tropical plants, the other willows. These islands are under restoration. The lake originally was home to black and white swans but today is mostly inhabited by wild ducks, coots and waterhens.

The bridge was originally built in 1886 and rustic laticework made of roots and branches was added in 1913. It was rebuilt in 1942 in concrete and limestone and only the lower portion of the stone base is part of the original structure.

Fountain

Restoration of the fountain to its 1881 appearance was achieved in 1991 by the Friends of the Warrnambool Botanic Gardens with the assistance of Warrnambool Rotary Club and the Warrnambool Master Plumbers Association together with the City's Heritage Adviser and the National Trust of Victoria.

The fountain precinct is in focus from the entrance and one can linger and enjoy all the senses; the sound of water, the scent of blossoms, the contrasts of rough local stone and smooth fountain basin and the textures of the surrounding plants.

Rotunda

The rotunda was built in 1913 during the heyday of music in the gardens. It originally had a speaker's platform and ouside staircase and is in the process of restoration. It is still used by bands and afternoon teas are served during specialy events by the Friends of the Gardens from the underneith section.

Urns

Three very fine urns are to be found in the gardens, circa early 1900's. The two smaller urns are in the process of being researched and restored and the lardge urn, which sits in the middle of the parterre, is considered to be one the largest garden urns in Victoria.

Sundial

This newly restored sundial was donated by Mayor Hickford in 1906. It has a slate face and bronze gnomon. Few sundials remain in public gardens today due to vandalism.

Cannon

A favourite among children, this cannon is a 32 Pounder Carronade and was cast in Scotland in 1813. It was designed as a ships cannon and is mounted on a base of Burmese teak. It is a smooth bore muzzle loader which has a range of around 3000 yards. It originally stood at the fort at Flagstaff Hill and was probably placed in the gardens as a reminder of Charles Scoborio's involvement with the Warrnambool Militia.

Fernery

The fernery has been rebuilt three times since 1888. It was rebuilt in 1985 as part of the Provincial Botanic Gardens Rejuvenation Program and contains over 5km of lattice. It contains a collection of Otway Forest ferns and plants from Tasmania.

Pinetum

Warrnambool has one of the few remaining pinetums in Victoria. This collection of trees includes Monetery Pines (Pinus radiata), which are over one hundred years old, together with a Soledad Pine (Pinus torreyana) which is rare in cultivation. A native of California, this tree is on the Register of Significant Trees of Victoria.

The Lone Pine

(Pinus brutia) is a tree of great importance and is also listed on the Register of Significant Trees of Victoria. Warrnambool has one of the original plantings of this tree, seed of which was brought from Gallipoli by Sergeant K McDowell. The seeds were germinated by his aunt from Grassmere and this tree was planted in 1934.

The Friends can be contacted at
Friends of Warrnambool Botanic Gardens Inc
P.O. Box 1190
Warrnambool
Vic 3280

E-mail: botanicgardens@warrnambool.nu

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