Gallop Botanic Reserve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gallop Botanic Reserve |
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Gallop Botanic Reserve, incorporating Cooktown Botanic Gardens, 1996
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| Location | Finch Bay Road, Cooktown, Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | 1878 - 1980s |
| Official name: Gallop Botanic Reserve, incorporating Cooktown Botanic Gardens, Cooktown Botanic Gardens and Recreation Reserve, Queens' Park Gardens and Recreation Reserve | |
| Type | state heritage (archaeological, built, landscape) |
| Designated | 13 October 1997 |
| Reference no. | 601696 |
| Significant period | 1878-1890s (fabric) 1878-1917 (historical) |
| Significant components | terracing, rockpool/s, trees/plantings, drainage, garden - rock / rockery, garden - bed/s, sports field/oval/playing field, pathway/walkway, well, road/roadway, steps/stairway, quarry |
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The Gallop Botanic Reserve is a special place in Cooktown, Australia. It includes the Cooktown Botanic Gardens and is listed as a heritage site. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected. The reserve was created between 1878 and the 1980s. It's also known by older names like Cooktown Botanic Gardens & Recreation Reserve and Queens' Park Gardens & Recreation Reserve. It became a heritage site on October 13, 1997.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Gardens
The Gallop Botanic Reserve, originally called Cooktown Botanic Gardens and Recreation Reserve, covers about 154 acres. It's located southeast of Cooktown, between the town and Finch's Bay. Cooktown itself was founded in October 1873, just five years before the reserve was officially set up in 1878. It was a busy port for the Palmer Goldfields.
Early Days and Growth
From 1878 to 1917, the Cooktown Council worked to create a formal botanic garden and sports fields on a small part of the reserve. They also improved a road to the ocean and made walking tracks. Most of the reserve, however, stayed wild.
In the late 1800s, Cooktown was booming because of the gold rush. During this time, the formal botanic gardens really grew and became beautiful. People in Queensland wanted public parks and gardens for recreation. They also wanted to study and grow different kinds of plants, both local and from other countries.
The Role of Botanists and Explorers
The idea for a botanic garden in Cooktown started around 1876. The local council asked the government for land between the town and Finch's Bay. This area was already popular for recreation. It also had a special connection to famous naturalists, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander. They were part of Lieutenant James Cook's voyage on HMS Endeavour in 1770.
Cook's ship stayed near Cooktown for seven weeks for repairs. During this time, Banks and Solander collected a huge number of plant and animal specimens. This was the most detailed collection from their entire journey along Australia's east coast.
Building the Gardens
In 1877, the Cooktown Council received money from the government to help start the reserve. They hired a gardener and chose a plan for the gardens. They improved the road to Finch's Bay and set up a plant nursery. They even brought plants from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
Interest in the gardens slowed down in the early 1880s. But by the mid-1880s, work started again. A botanist was hired to design a new nursery. Trees and shrubs were ordered, and a full-time gardener was employed from 1888. The sports field was also improved, and a concrete cricket pitch was added.
Peak Years and Decline
The gardens were at their best in the early 1890s. They dug wells for water and installed pipes. A gardener's cottage was built in 1892. The formal gardens were fenced and had beautiful lawns, shrubs, and flower beds. They were officially called Queen's Park and Gardens.
During the 1890s, stone paths, stone-lined pools, and stone bridges were built along a creek. A bush house (a type of greenhouse) was put up in 1893. Many different trees and shrubs were planted, both for beauty and for their economic value. The gardens even supplied trees for other parts of Cooktown.
However, as the gold from the Palmer River declined, Cooktown's population and wealth also fell. The gardens faced financial problems. A cyclone in 1907 caused a lot of damage. Even with some government help, it was hard to keep the gardens going.
By 1917, the gardens had to close to the public. The gardener's cottage, bush house, and other equipment were sold. The Cooktown Council still looked after the land, but the formal gardens and sports grounds weren't used for public recreation again until 1979.
Rebirth of the Reserve
In 1980, the Cook Shire Council decided to restore the reserve, especially the formal gardens. They wanted to protect the original plants and native trees.
In 1984, the council began rebuilding the formal botanic gardens, which cover about 3.5 hectares. They cleared the area, planted lawns, rebuilt stonework, and created walking tracks. The whole reserve was officially reopened on December 19, 1984. It was renamed the Gallop Botanic Reserve to honor Mr. Rollo Darcy Gallop and his son, Mr. Graham Darcy Gallop. They were important administrators for Cook Shire for many years.
Since then, more work has been done to restore and preserve the gardens. Today, the Cooktown Botanic Gardens are part of the Gallop Botanic Reserve. They have expanded to include sections for exotic plants, native plants, and a "Solander's Gardens" (named after Daniel Solander). They are now a popular place for both tourists and locals to enjoy and learn about nature.
Exploring the Gallop Botanic Reserve
The Gallop Botanic Reserve is about 1.5 kilometers (less than a mile) from the center of Cooktown. It covers about 62 hectares (over 150 acres). The reserve is next to the Coral Sea on the east and Alligator Creek to the east and south.
What You'll Find Inside
The reserve includes:
- The Cooktown Botanic Gardens
- An old sports field with a concrete cricket pitch
- Two granite quarries, where you can see how stone was once cut by hand
- Walking tracks
- Finch's Bay Road
Most of the reserve has open sclerophyll vegetation. This means it has hardy plants like Melaleuca trees, Eucalypts (like Bloodwood), and Cooktown Ironwood, along with various grasses.
The Cooktown Botanic Gardens, a smaller part of the reserve, also has native trees. But it also features formal lawns, stone waterways, and plants from other parts of the world.
Surviving Old Features
The gardens still have many parts from their original design in the late 1800s. These include:
- Garden terraces (flat areas built into a slope)
- Dry-pitched granite rockpools (pools made with stones without mortar)
- Covered stone drains
- Stone steps
- Wells
- Parts of rock gardens
- Other historical elements
Even after being neglected from 1917 to 1979, some original plants survived. Over 90 species from the early garden plantings have been identified!
Even though some changes were made in the 1980s, the overall layout of the gardens is very similar to how it was between 1878 and 1917. There are still parts of the old underground drainage system that haven't been explored yet.
Why This Place is Special: Heritage Listing
The Gallop Botanic Reserve, including the Cooktown Botanic Gardens, was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1997. This means it's recognized as a very important historical and cultural site for several reasons:
A Glimpse into Queensland's Past
The reserve shows us how Queensland's history developed. It was created in 1878 when Cooktown was a major port in far north Queensland. The improvements made to the reserve in the late 1800s show how much people believed in Cooktown during that time. By setting up this reserve early on, a large area of natural land near Cooktown was saved. This is extra special because of the important work of naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, who collected many plant samples here in 1770.
Unique and Rare Features
The Gallop Botanic Reserve is unique in Queensland. It's not just a formal garden, but also has a large natural forest and ocean beaches. The Cooktown Botanic Gardens are special because they have so much of their original stone-pitching (both covered and uncovered) still intact. Their 19th-century design is one of the most complete in Queensland.
Learning from the Past
The gardens can teach us a lot about public gardens from the late 1800s. They show how these gardens were designed and how they served the community in a pioneering town.
Showing Key Characteristics
The formal gardens are a great example of late 19th-century public garden design. Even with changes in the 1980s, the layout is still very similar to its original design from 1878-1917. You can still see the garden terraces, stone rockpools, drains, steps, wells, and rock garden parts. Many original plants from the early days are still there. Other old parts of the reserve, like the sports oval, cricket pitch, and the old road to Finch's Bay, show how important the reserve was for recreation from Cooktown's earliest days.
Beautiful Scenery
The Gallop Botanic Reserve is very beautiful. This comes from the restored formal gardens, but also from the natural landscape. It has amazing granite rock formations and a stunning, untouched coastline.
Strong Community Connection
Finch's Bay, which is part of the reserve, has been a popular recreation spot for Cooktown residents for over 120 years. The Cooktown Botanic Gardens have a special meaning for the local community. They represent the establishment and growth of their town in the late 1800s. Since 1980, the Cook Shire Council has worked hard to restore and develop the gardens and recreation grounds. They are now an important historical attraction for both locals and visitors.
