Document information

Physical location:

Y71/485, unit 576, VPRS 3991/P inward registered correspondence, VA 475 Chief Secretary's Department, Public Record Office, Victoria. 71.01.12

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Odgers, 1871-01-12. 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/1870-9/1871/71-01-12-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne botanic Garden
12. Jan 71
Sir
In compliance with the request, conveyed by your minute of yesterday,
1
On 7 January 1871, Thomas Ledbetter, Secretary of the Botanical Garden Enquiry Board, wrote to the Chief Secretary, James McCulloch, requesting various 'documents and information, for the purpose of enabling the Board to proceed at once in the enquiries indicated to them in the terms of their appointment by Government.' On 10 Januery, William Odgers, the Under Secretary, forwarded the document to M annotated: 'The Director will be good enough to supply as early as possible — pars 1. 2 & 3'. These paragraphs demanded: '1st A plan of the Botanical Gardens and Reserve showing the whole amount of Acreage under the control of the Head Superintendent of the Gardens. The plan should also show the amount of ground under cultivation in 1853, and the various additions to the cultivated and improved area in acres, for every year since up to date. 2nd The entire annual cost of the Gardens for each year since their commencement up to December 31st 1870, or to the end of the official year in 1870. Also for a memorandum of the entire staff employed in, and connected with the Gardens at present, and their status. 3. A copy of each annual report of the Gardens from the commencement to date.'
M returned the document on 12 January with a note on it: 'Request attended to as far as in the Directors power'.
I have the honor of sending herewith 1, a garden plan,
2
Presumably this plan was a marked copy of E. Heyne's map in M's 1868 annual report (B69.07.03); a State Library of Victoria copy can be seen at   https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE7179342 .
on which with pencil is marked the area, which prior to the commencement of my Directorship in June 1857 was more or less laid out and to some extent planted. No regular books were kept prior to my administration in the botanic Garden, the accounts of disbursements being kept by the office of public works. I can therefore not say, what precise ground was under cultivation in 1853. As regards the successive annual additions to the plantations since 1857, I have the honor to remark, that according to the quantity and kinds of plants yearly available and according to the resources and obligations of any kind at any time the planting operations were extended; but of course this could only be fragmentary and partially at any time; hence continued improvements took place on even the oldest ground; hence also the impossibility to mark off on the plan what new area came annually under cultivation. In my successive reports to Parliament I have however indicated the additional work, periodically performed.
2, For reasons already indicated I can only give the annual expenditures of my Department since I became Director. Two schedules are thus now annexed, one showing the expenditure under the Minister of the Department, the other showing the expenditure under the Minister of public works. The outlay for zoologic purposes is excluded. As asked, I have also furnished herewith a list of the present employees of my establishment, and indicated briefly the duties allotted to each person respectively.
3, The series of my reports to Parliament can only be obtained from the reserve copies kept in the Parliamentary Library Store.
4. In reference to the area and expenditure of the bot Gardens of Sydney and Adelaide I may be allowed to observe, that the Sydney Garden and Park under the Directors control have two separate votes, and that neither the Sydney nor the Adelaide establishment maintain a phytographic Museum, a literary branch, a phytochemic laboratory and a large supply nursery for the public institutions of towns and country. Finally I beg to state that previous to my Directorship no ironfences, ironbowers, waterpipes, permanent drain pipes, tree lines, cisterns, tanks, steam engine, existed, that 14 buildings arose since, and that important additions were made to some of the buildings existing before.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your obedient servant
Ferd. von Mueller, M.D.
Direct. botan. Garden
The Under Secretary.
Staff of the Melbourne Botanic Garden
3
Not all of the staff named have been identified. Those for whom details have been found have entries in the Biographical Register .
Name
Nature of Employment
Dr. F. von Mueller C.M.G., F.R.S.
Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Garden
John Dallachy
Botanical Collector
J. G. Luhmann
Clerk, Accountant and Custodian of Botanic Museum
J. Watters
Gardener, in charge of green house & system ground
Th. Morrison
" " of ground next to gully
H. Hendrick
" " of western ground
E. Soues
" Enginedriver and Roadmaker
D. Coller
" in charge of select nursery and forcing pits
J. Sullivan
Carter
Rob. Morrison
Gardener, in charge of eastern ground
A. Neate
Messenger, Twon Agent, also assisting in clerical work
W. Lumsden
Gardener, in charge of conservatory and ground near it
Th. Bourke
" " of middle ground
G. Schneider
" " Victoria house, oak plantation & select tree nursery
Th. Gulliver
" " Government House Reserve
C. Schlipalius
" " seed magazine & for outdoor sowing
C. French
4
Charles French Snr.
" Signwriter, in charge of Domain
H. Moran
" in charge of pine nursery and orchard
S. Cottrell
Artizan for various work also in charge of birds
W. Smith
Gerdener for various garden work
C. Richards
Junior Assistant in Museum
F. Pllcher
Office boy, also employed in garden work
W. Ferguson
Inspector of Forests, temporarily employed as Principal Horticultural Assistant in the Botanic Garden
Votes for the Melbourne Botanical Garden and the scientific institutions connected therewith, from 1857 to 1870 (exclusive of special votes for Public Works and exclusive of votes for zoological purposes)
1857
Salaries
804
3
4
Wages & Contingencies
3231
6
8
4035
10
-
1858
Salaries
1200
-
-
Wages
3000
-
-
Contingencies
1225
5425
-
-
1859
Salaries
1200
-
-
Wages (excl. Zoolog. Dept)
3000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Tools & Labels (excl. Zool. Dpt)
270
-
-
Forage "
140
-
-
Stores, Timber &c. "
350
-
-
Works on Australian Plants
320
-
-
Incidental Expenses
100
-
-
5530
-
-
1860
Salaries
1200
-
-
Wages (excl. Zool. Dpt)
3000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Stores Timber, Tools Tiles &c.
420
-
-
Forage
140
-
-
Incidental Expenses
100
-
-
5010
-
-
1861
Salaries
1200
-
-
Wages (excl Zool. Dpt)
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Publishing Works on Austr Plants
320
-
-
Stores, Tiles, Timber &c.
420
-
-
Forage
140
-
-
Travelling & Incidental Expenses
160
-
-
6390
-
-
1862
Salaries
1200
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Publication of Works
320
-
-
Stores, Building Material &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses, Food for Birds
220
-
-
Travelling & Incident. Expenses
160
-
-
6470
-
-
1863
Salaries
810
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Publication of Works
250
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds
150
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
Incidental & Transit Exp.
120
-
-
5940
-
-
1864
Salaries
860
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants &c
150
-
-
Publication of Works
350
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Foof for Birds
220
-
-
Transit & Incidental Exp.
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
6160
-
-
1865
Salaries
885
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Publication of Works
350
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds &c
220
-
-
Transit & Incidental Expenses
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
6185
-
-
1866
Salaries
910
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants & Seeds
150
-
-
Publication of Works
350
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds
220
-
-
Transit & Incidental Expenses
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
6210
-
-
1867
Salaries
935
-
-
Wages
4000
-
-
Purchase of Plants & Seeds
150
-
-
Publication of Works
350
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds
220
-
-
Transit & Incidental Exp
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
6235
-
-
1868
Salaries
960
-
-
Wages
3800
-
-
Purchase of Plants & Seeds
150
-
-
Publication of Works
150
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
420
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds
220
-
-
Transit & Incidental Expenses
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
5860
-
-
1869
Salaries
610
-
-
Wages
3680
-
-
Purchase of Plants
150
-
-
Publication of Works
150
-
-
Stores, Timber, Stationery &c
350
-
-
Forage for horses & Food for Birds
140
-
-
Transit & Incidental Exp
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
Expense of working engine (Supplem. Vote)
260
18
8
5506
18
8
1870
Salaries
860
-
-
Wages
2691
-
-
Purchase of Plants and Publication of Works
130
-
-
Stores, Timber &c
250
-
-
Forage & Food for Birds
85
-
-
Transit & Incidental Exp
120
-
-
Travelling Expenses
40
-
-
Wages, Supplement. Vote
47
10
-
4223
10
-
Total £
79,180
18
8
The exact expenditure of the Zoological Department until its separation and transfer to the Royal Park cannot be ascertained with precision, as both votes were united, but the amounts set down now for the Botanic Garden may be regarded as fair and equitable.
Public Works Department
Statement of expenditure for the Botanic Garden
1857
Erecting large conservatory
1185
9
4
Laborers forming walks & drains
998
13
-
Notice boards & timber for bridges
48
-
7
Erecting orchestra
90
10
-
Fencing Directors office & cottage
155
9
6
Repairs to conservatory
125
2
4
Shed at Directors office
11
10
-
Shelving for seed room
23
-
-
Tent floor fly & shed for cottage
54
17
1
Repairing gardeners cottage, glass &c.
55
-
8
2747
12
6
1858
Stoves at cottages & Directors quarters
29
-
-
Repairs to various buildings
196
-
-
Removal of wooden cottage fr. Lonsd. St
5
Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
23
-
-
Repairs to cottage & conservatory
9
14
-
Removing & reerecting cottage
13
18
-
Completing orchestra
67
-
-
Erecting gardeners cottage
120
-
-
Heating apparatus at conservatory
502
-
-
Timber for seats
11
2
7
do & wire houses
21
3
6
Removing & fixing Russian guns
86
-
-
New locks to 10 gates
7
-
-
1085
18
1
1859
New iron fencing
1212
3
-
Erecting museum
975
8
7
Tree guards & water tanks
995
-
-
Shed for animals & aviary
500
-
-
Painting & fixing Russian guns
6
-
-
Blue gum timber for fencing
9
16
8
Additional work for heating appar.
1
6
4
3699
14
7
1860
Lacquering & cleaning guns
4
10
-
Repairs to roof of Museum
21
-
-
Fencing at Bot. Gardens
222
-
10
Blue Gum for fencing
12
18
-
Alteration to gates at bridge
5
15
-
Garden line, nails, palings
2
6
6
Shelves & furniture for Museum
173
-
-
441
10
-
1861
Iron fencing, iron seats & repairs
999
11
7
Additional fittings for Museum
93
-
-
1092
11
7
1862
Timber for repairs of buildings
7
14
4
Additions to office building
794
-
-
Two-roomed weatherboard cottage
20
-
-
821
14
4
1863
Addition to propagating houses
25
-
-
Hot-water apparatus for conservatory
48
10
-
Chimney pieces for office building
40
-
-
Additions to buildings
343
7
8
Stoves &c for office building
39
14
9
Works at gardeners cottage
57
10
-
Additions to propagating houses
126
10
-
Works at cottages
15
10
-
Labor & material for laying on water
369
11
2
Flooring pantry & hall
6
10
-
Posts & nails
20
16
-
Repairs to fences
25
17
6
1118
17
1
1864
Erecting chimney at cottage
5
12
6
Enclosure of Russian guns renewed
35
15
-
Wages of laborers, repairing fences &c
294
10
-
Tarring iron fencing
49
15
-
Repairs
15
4
-
Iron fences &c
23
-
-
" water tanks
82
7
-
Waterpipes
7
8
-
Refixing iron fence
11
-
-
Timber &c
33
12
4
Laying on water
71
12
-
Fittings in museum
124
10
-
Iron bowers
98
18
4
Lead pipe for lagoon fountain
120
-
-
Glass, turpentine &c
22
18
10
996
3
-
1865
Repairing tree guards
10
19
6
Wages of laborers repairing damage done by flood
399
18
3
Laying on water pipes &c
761
15
9
Earthworks, gravelling, excavating &c
470
2
2
Fire bricks £20 Timber 121.2.10
141
2
10
Iron retort for laboratory
11
10
-
40 gal Still & worm
20
-
-
Works at laboratory
182
10
-
1997
18
6
1866
Wages of laborers excavating in lagoon
478
17
10
Repairs to meter
1
-
2
Addit. room to cottage in Govt House R.
6
Government House Reserve.
15
-
-
Repairs to meter
7
4
6
Blue stone rubble
3
8
-
Building Victoria house & tank
14
10
-
Bricks, cement &c for do
44
8
-
Cartage of materials
3
6
6
Sundry works
2
-
-
Hot water apparatus
25
6
8
Wages for chainman for surveying
2
7
3
Repairs to wooden bridge
9
-
-
606
8
11
1867
Repairs to water meter & pressure gauge
5
18
7
Iron railing to lagoon bridge
7
19
4
13
17
11
1868
Box for water meter
1
10
-
Repairs to office building
10
10
-
Wooden cottage in Gvt House Res.
30
-
-
Notice Boards
13
14
-
Wages for assistance in surveying
1
16
9
Cast iron water pipes
51
-
-
Repairs to engine & boiler
67
9
8
Timber
38
3
2
Erection of engine house & tank
59
10
-
Pumps &c for water supply from Yarra
247
17
10
521
11
5
1869
Alteration to water pipes
34
3
-
Repairs to valves &c
7
17
4
Cast iron water pipes
72
13
4
Wages for assistance in surveying
4
7
6
Laying pipes &c
60
16
3
Earthworks for flood dam
283
8
9
Pitched crossing at Domain Road
5
4
6
New Fence at Domain Road
206
14
3
675
4
11
1870
Repairs to Palm House
Extension of fence at Domain Road
Shed for nursery plants
Signwriting and minor
contracts
7
There is a large bracket to the right of the entries, indicating that the items have not been individually costed.
200
-
-
200
-
-