Document information
Physical location:
T69/5265, unit 18, VPRS 242 crown reserves correspondence files, VA 538 Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Public Record Office, Victoria. 69.03.22Preferred Citation:
Ferdinand von Mueller to James Grant, 1869-03-22. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1860-9/1869/69-03-22-final.odt>, accessed June 10, 2026
1
For a copy of this letter see A345 Royal Park Trustees letter and minute book, Mitchell Library, Sydney.
22/3/69
Sir
I have the honor to inform you, that I have been directed by the trustees of the Royal
Park at a meeting held this day, to solicit your favorable consideration to the subjoined
schedule of expenditure, which is likely to arise for the proper maintenance of the
Park during the year 1869. Considering that not unconsiderable sums are expended on
other suburban parks and aware, that the Royal Park is the only near place of recreation
for the northwestern part of the city and for Brunswick and Flemington, the trustees
regard the sums set forth not to be in excess of requirements, altho' it supplements
by the sum of £470 the estimate of the Acclimation Society. The trustees are anxious,
that not only the fences should be repaired and partly renewed, but also that the
system of water-works should be extended, and lines of trees be planted along the
drive.
I have further been requested to inform you, Sir, that noxious effluvia find their
way from the Small-pox Hospital of the Royal park to a natural drain towards one of
the entrance Gates and to near the public road, and the trustees beg respectfully
to submit, that thus the public safety may be endangered. The Trustees are also of
opinion, that the Hospital in the Park is too near the public thoroughfare to secure
passers bye against infection, and altho' such a hospital for a brief period of emergency
may serve its present purpose, they venture to hope that a more isolated locality
may early be found for those sick of contagious or infectious disease.
The trustees desire me to express their best thanks for your kind intention and that
of the hon. the Chief Secretary to visit the Royal Park during the Easter time and
they will feel honored to attend on the honorable Gentlemen.
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
your very obedient
Ferd. von Mueller
The honorable J. M. Grant, M.P.
President of the Board of Land & Works
2
On 23 March 1869 the Assistant Commissioner for Crown Lands and Survey, C. Hodgkinson, responded: 'The Honble the Commissioner of
Lands & Survey having instructed me to state my views relative to this estimate I
beg to state that I think it inexpedient to incur such a large expenditure for pipes & water taps, which expenditure would be greater
than the
total sum expended on pipes and taps on all the parks and gardens vested in the Board
of Land & Works
. Instead of planting, in the Royal Park avenues, trees that would be dependent on
irrigation for their growth, it would be better to plant
such trees only
as have been proved to be capable of growing well in properly prepared ground without
watering. In this category are some of the most ornamental and quick growing kinds
of Coniferae, many of which stand drought as well as the indigenous Eucalypti. There
are also some good shade spreading trees which will thrive well in ordinary soil as
avenue trees without irrigation. I personally regret that in the reserves under my
immediate control such a great extension has been given to the plantation of all kinds
of deciduous trees, for during the scanty supply of water obtainable for irrigation
this summer the foliage of the more tender kinds such as Chestnut, Beech, Sycamore,
Hickory &c has been much scorched'.
Estimate of Expenditure of the Royal Park
|
Water Supply
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£86.—.—
|
|
Laying water pipes 1' 1470 yds
|
205.1.9
|
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42 taps a 8/6 & hoses
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23.17.—
|
|
Fencing, Repairs to Flemington gate and fencing cultivation paddocks etc
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203.13.—
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New Lodge for Flemington Road gate
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40.—.—
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Cultivating 91 acres of ground new plantation
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234.—.—
|
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Carriage drive to be followed up as marked on plan and part already made to be kept
in proper order and repair
|
238.15.—
|
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Outside fence renewing and repairs to old roads, gates etc.
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470.—.—
|
|
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£1501.6.9
|
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Say
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£1500. —
3
A grant of £1,000 for the Acclimatisation Society was included in the Chief Secretary's
estimates for 1870 (Victoria,
Parliamentary Paper 1870
B 2,
p. 17). For further backgound, see M to J. Grant, 11 March 1869 (in this edition as
69-03-11a) and notes thereto.
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