Carlton Gardens

« back to Parks

The historic Carlton Gardens are a Melbourne icon, and the setting for the contrasting structures of the historic Royal Exhibition Building and the contemporary Melbourne Museum.

In July 2004 the Royal Exhibition buildings and the surrounding gardens were inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage list, which gives the site global recognition and legal protection.

The site is a permanent monument to 19th-century western, industrial culture and is one of few surviving precincts that were created to symbolise the achievements of the industrial age of that time.

Full-screen picture of Carlton Gardens

At a glance

Map of park - Click here
Toilet - Yes
Playground - Yes
Sports field - No
Barbecue - No
Melway Ref - 2B H11
Size - 15.92ha
Dog off-leash area - No
Running/bike track - No

Special features of Carlton Gardens include:

• the circular French Fountain;
• avenues of large mature trees;
• the Westgarth drinking fountain;
• plantings in honour of the Dalai Lama; 
• ponds and flower beds in Carlton Gardens south;
• the Carlton Gardens Courts (enquiries 9663 7000);
• two ornamental lakes created for the 1880 exhibition;
• wonderful photo opportunities (popular with wedding groups);
• the temporary and permanent exhibitions of Melbourne Museum;
• the Royal Exhibition Building (guided tours can be booked on 13 11 02);
• Lie of the Land, a sculptural installation at the entry to Melbourne Museum;
• remnant pieces of stone from the Colonial Square building (built in 1896, demolished in 1960);
• the children's playground based on the concept of a 19th century maze (north of the Museum);
• the elaborate Hochgurtel fountain, with symbols representing commerce, industry, science and the arts; and
• the Moreton Bay Fig trees where local aboriginals have traditionally met and socialised, and singer/songwriter Archie Roach created two of his well known songs.

Horticulture

The gardens are a spectacular example of a Victorian-era parkland.

The southern part of Carlton Gardens remains largely unchanged since it was re-landscaped for the 1880 Exhibition, with breathtaking avenues of trees, charming ponds and floral beds, and the elaborate Hochgurtel fountain.

The Gardens slope gently down to the north east and south west from the Exhibition Building. The nineteenth century path layout is enhanced by magnificent avenues of trees, including the grand avenue of Plane trees leading up to the Exhibition Building dome, called the “Grand Allee”.

The tree species are widely mixed and include deciduous oaks, planes, elms, conifers, araucarias and broad-leafed evergreens such as Moreton Bay Figs.

Beneath the avenues of trees, green lawns stretch across the Gardens, broken only by shrub beds and stunning floral beds, changed three times a year.

The establishment of the Gardens

Carlton Gardens were originally designed for the Melbourne International Exhibition of 1880 and, for more than a century, have formed one of the most historically significant urban landscapes in Australia. Edward Latrobe Bateman designed the layout, planted in the 1850s and 60s as ornamental gardens, although much of this work was later destroyed to accommodate the Exhibition Building.

The Exhibition Building

The central area of the gardens became the site of the Exhibition Building. In July 2004 the building gained international recognition with World Heritage Listing. 

More information can be found about the significance of Carlton Gardens and the Royal Exhibition Building at Heritage Victoria.

International Exhibitions

The concept of International Exhibitions began in the United Kingdom in 1851 as a spectacular shopfront for the industrial revolution. The exhibition movement was responsible for the creation of many significant structures worldwide, the most famous of which is the Eiffel Tower, built for the Paris International Exhibition of 1889.

These events were hugely popular. The 1880 exhibition saw around 1.5 million people visit Melbourne at a time when Australia’s population was just 2.2 million.

Following the success of the 1880 exhibition the building and gardens were used for a second, larger exhibition in 1888. The Royal Exhibition Building also hosted the ceremonial opening of the first Federal Parliament in Australia in 1901.

Melbourne Museum

The ultra-modern Melbourne Museum rises up alongside the Exhibition Building and creates an impressive contrast for visitors. The Museum hosts many permanent and temporary exhibitions - find out more at www.museum.vic.gov.au

Exhibition Fountain (Hochgurtel Fountain)

In front of the Royal Exhibition Buildings is the Hochgurtel Fountain, with its three colossal figures, half man, half fish supporting the first ledge.

Above the first ledge four boys dance hand in hand, representing commerce, industry, science and arts, with symbolic designs shown over their heads.

Hochgurtel’s design was selected by the Gardens Committee in 1880, who invited designs for a fountain to be built for the Exhibition. It is made from Portland cement on a frame of stone and iron.

Westgarth Drinking Fountain

The drinking fountain has a three tiered base with two bronze emus on the sides, surmounted by two kangaroos and topped with a spherical bronze and glass orb.

Makers Alexander McDonald & Co produced the granite and bronze piece in 1888 as a centrepiece for the 1888 Exhibition.

It was presented to the colony of Victoria by Mr William Westgarth and stored in the Museum of Victoria until 1940, when it was purchased by Giannarelli & Sons.

French Fountain

The French fountain is found at the east entrance of the Exhibition Building and shows three figures supporting dolphins and scallop shells in a circular pond.

Lie of the Land

In contrast to some of the more historic pieces in the Carlton Gardens, this modern sculpture was built in 1997 for the entrance to the Melbourne Museum, which opened in late 1999.

Artists Fiona Foley and Chris Knowles created the seven large sandstone pillars, roughly three metres high, which are inscribed with the objects ‘exchanged’ by John Batman for the land on which Melbourne was settled.

Dr Louis Smith

A bronze bust of Dr Smith sits on a granite pedestal in the east entrance of the Exhibition Building. It was erected by Bertram McKennal on 26 March, 1914.

Getting there by public transport

Starting point: Federation Square (Melbourne)
Walk along Swanston Street to Bourke Street and take tram (85, 95, 96) from Bourke Street.