Rosalind Park open: all hours Childrens Play Space open: non-school hours.
Fernery and Conservatory open: every day 8am to sunset
Prior to 1851 the area we now call Rosalind Park was a grassy woodland with large River Red Gums lining the creek that was a chain of deep, permanent fresh water pools. The creek would have been an important source of food and water for the Dja Dja Wrung people who lived in the area. The 1851 gold rush transformed this little valley into crazy jumble of shallow shafts, mullock heaps and puddling mills. The story of Rosalind Park is about the transformation of a goldfield into an important public park.
The play space includes small slides, climbing decks, fireman's pole and bridges, a sandpit, drinking fountain and paved seating areas. A large climbing net has also been installed to cater for older children. The play space is accessible to wheelchairs in most areas.
The play space is used exclusively by Camp Hill students during school hours and is available to the public at other times.
At the northern end of Rosalind Park is the granite gateway leading into the Fernery. In 1879 GS Mackay who was a leading authority on ferns proposed the establishment of a fernery in an area known as the Willows, which was once a bend in the Bendigo Creek. The billabong was levelled and transformed into an open air fernery where mature trees now provide a canopy of shade for the more tender ferns.
The area has a luxuriant character with its water features, bridges, rockeries, gravel paths, and a fern and palm collection. The River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) growing in the fernery are remnants of the original vegetation of the Bendigo Creek and are of historical significance. There is also a good selection of Victorian (state) ferns on display for example Blechnum patersonii (Strap Water Fern), Doodia media (Common Rasp Fern), Asplenium bulbiferum (Mother Spleenwort), and Pellaea falcata (Sickle Fern). As well as numerous tree ferns Dicksonia antartica (Soft Tree Fern), Cyathea cooperii (Lacy Tree Fern), Cyathea cunninghamii (Slender Tree Fern), Cyathea australis (Rough Tree Fern) and many more.
The conservatory gardens were laid out in 1886 on land previously used as a rubbish tip. The Washington Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) were planted in the late 1800's. The beds under the palms are now used to display the city's spring tulip display which can contian up to 50,000 tulip bulbs. The garden has retained its 19th century statuary, garden baskets and conservatory building.
The ornate conservatory building was erected in 1897 and is the last such building in existence in a public park in Victoria. Through out the year different floral and foliage displays are exhibited to the public.
The present poppet head lookout tower was erected in 1931. It was shifted from the Garden Gully United mine. During the gold rush a flag was flown from the top of Camp Hill to signal the arrival of mail. Because of the absence of trees which were cut down for the mines, the flag could be seen from all parts of Bendigo. It is well worth the climb to the top of the tower as the views over Bendigo are spectacular.
Designed by Maery Gabriel, the mosaic was completed in 1987 by hundreds of volunteers from the Bendigo community. The mosaic depicts aspects of Bendigo's mining history. It is designed to be viewed from above, on the first level of the lookout tower where there is more information displayed.
Looking back into the Park there is a good view of the avenues of trees that were planted in the latter half of the 19th century. While the numerous elms (Ulmus x hollandica) and oaks (Quercus canariensis x Quercus robur) are the most numerous tree species, the park does have other interesting tree species to look out for: African Yellowwood (Afrocarpus falcata), an avenue of ten mature Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis), Australian Teak (Flindersia australis), Bunya-Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) and Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta).
The granite gates and iron fencing leading into the park from View Street date from 1878. The many historically significant buildings on the north side of View Street were excised from the original government land over time. Viewing Rosalind Park from this gateway gives a splendid view of the impressive Dutch elm avenues and the original general layout of the park. Beyond the bust of Ernest Mueller further into this section of the park the following trees can be seen: Bunya-Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii), Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), and a South African Yellow-Wood (Afrocarpus falcata). All are listed on the National Trust Register of Significant Trees.
The Alexandra Fountain is opposite the gates and iron fence of the Queen Victoria Gardens. Of significant interest in these gardens are the Queen Victoria statue dating from 1903, the Sir John Quick bust dating from 1934, the Queensland Lilly Pilly (Waterhousea floribunda) and the floral bedding.
Most miners left the goldfields empty handed and there are a few memorials to them. The man who is remembered here, George Lansell, stayed and made his fortune. The large palm tree that keeps George company in this garden is a very unusual tree. It is a Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea Chilensis). Slow growing and difficult to propagate it is now very rare in Chile, its place of origin. The palm's sap was once used to make 'wine' hence its common name. The Chilean Wine palm is reported to be sensitive to frost and drought and therefore not really suited to our climate, however every autumn this palm produces masses of yellow plum sized fruit.
Rosalind Park was added to the Victorian Heritage Register in 2000 as being of historic, archaeological, aesthetic, scientific (botanical) and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.
For more information visit the Heritage Victoria web site.
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