02/04/2004
Lord Mayor John So and Heritage Council Chair Chris Gallagher have welcomed the addition of Melbourne’s Flagstaff Gardens to the Victorian Heritage Register, which means all major gardens in the municipality are now protected under law.
“This registration means that the City of Melbourne’s major gardens are acknowledged for their cultural heritage at a State level. It also means that Melburnians and visitors to our city can enjoy the gardens now and into the future,” the Lord Mayor said.
"Council is pleased the State Government has now listed these gardens which have been managed by the City of Melbourne for nearly a hundred years. This listing, together with Council's master plan, provides a comprehensive framework for the continued preservation of these gardens," the Lord Mayor said.
The Flagstaff Gardens, located in King Street, were established in 1862, and join the Treasury Gardens, Fitzroy Gardens, Carlton Gardens (registered as part of the Royal Exhibition Building site) and Royal Botanic Gardens, on the Victorian Heritage Register.
The site of the Flagstaff Gardens was originally named Burial Hills, when it was used as Melbourne's first burial ground in the 1830s. It was also used as a signal station between 1840 and 1857, and then as a magnetic and meteorological observatory from 1857-1862. It is a significant archaeological site.
According to Ms Gallagher, the gardens are a living example of Melbourne’s early settlement and an important piece of Victoria’s heritage.
“This listing ensures the much loved trees, landscaping and other individual features are conserved and protected. But it also means the whole site is recognised as an important place for gaining an insight into our historical, archaeological, aesthetic, horticultural and social heritage,” she said.
“This listing recognises the significant historic value of the gardens and gives them the highest level of legal protection in the State, requiring any future development to gain approval from the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria,” Ms Gallagher said.
Flagstaff Gardens were nominated for the Victorian Heritage Register by the City of Melbourne on 30 April, 2003. The Executive Director of Heritage Victoria, Ray Tonkin, recommended the gardens be added to the register on 19 July, 2003. The Heritage Council made the final decision to list the gardens on the register on 12 March, 2004, this decision was gazetted on 23 March, 2004.
