Sturt Street Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sturt Street Gardens |
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Aerial view of the eastern part of Sturt Street Gardens looking east
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia |
| Area | 2.87 hectares |
| Operated by | City of Ballarat |
The Sturt Street Gardens are beautiful public gardens located right in the middle of Sturt Street, one of the main roads in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Imagine a long, green park running down the center of a busy street – that's what these gardens are!
These gardens stretch for 13 city blocks, from Grenville Street in the east to Pleasant Street in the west. They are about 20 meters wide and cover an area of 2.87 hectares. That's like having a long, narrow park right in the heart of the city!
The Sturt Street Gardens are very old and important to Ballarat. They are known for their special features, including many statues, bandstands, and memorials. Some parts of the gardens are even listed on the Victorian Heritage Register, which means they are protected because of their historical value. The whole garden area is considered a heritage site by the City of Ballarat. These gardens are a big part of Ballarat's history and culture.
Different sections of the gardens have their own names, like Queen Victoria Square and Alexandra Square, often named after important historical figures or events.
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A Look at the Gardens' History
The idea for Sturt Street, the main road where the gardens are, came from the first survey of Ballarat in 1851. This survey was done by a person named WS Urquhart. In the 1860s, the road was designed with two separate lanes for traffic and a wide strip in the middle. This central strip is where the beautiful gardens are today!
Special Heritage Sites in the Gardens
The Sturt Street Gardens are home to several important historical structures. Some of these are so special that they are listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Let's explore a couple of them!
The Titanic Memorial Bandstand
The Titanic Memorial Bandstand is a very unique and interesting building. It was built in 1915 and has a cool, oriental-style roof. It really stands out on Sturt Street!
This bandstand is one of the few left from a time when bandstands were common in parks. It reminds us of how popular live music was many years ago. The fact that it's still here shows how important music has always been to Ballarat's culture.
This bandstand is also a memorial to the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It especially honors the brave musicians who kept playing music as the ship went down. The bandstand also shows how proud and patriotic the people of Ballarat were when it was built.
The Queen Alexandra Bandstand
The Alexandra Bandstand was built in 1908. It has a cool, round shape with a "Moorish" onion-shaped dome on top. This style was very popular for bandstands back then. It also has really nice metal details that look like musical notes!
Like the Titanic bandstand, this one is also one of the few bandstands left in Victoria. It reminds us of a time when listening to bands play was a very popular way to have fun. Its survival shows how important music was, and still is, to Ballarat's community.
Statues You Can Find
The City of Ballarat has created a special "walk of statues" within the Sturt Street Gardens. As you walk through the gardens, you'll see many different statues. Here are some of the main ones, listed from west to east:
- Peterson Fountain (1923)
- George Treloar Memorial (2019) by Lis Johnson
- Mother Earth (1952) by George H. Allen
- Peter Lalor (1893) by Nelson McLean
- Sir Albert Coates (2000) by Louis Laumen
- King George V Monument (1938) by Victor Greenhalgh
- Ruth (1899) by Charles F. Summers
- Hebe (1899) by B. Raggi
- Thomas Moore (1889) by George Grant
- Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain (1902) by F. W. Commons
- Queen Victoria (1900) by Sir Edgar Bertram MacKennal
- Robert Burns (1867) by John Udny
- Point to Sky (2002) by Akio Makigawa
Important Memorials and Monuments
Besides the statues, the gardens also have many memorials and monuments that remember important people or events. Here are some of them:
- Gordon Memorial (1969) by Raymond B. Ewers
- Cenotaph (1949) by John P. Shimmin
- Eternal Flame (1995) by Peter Blizzard
- Korean, Borneo, Malayan, Vietnam War Memorial (2000)
- William Dunstan Victoria Cross Memorial (2000)
- King George V Monument (1938) by Victor Greenhalgh
- Phoenix Foundry Plaque
- Queen Victoria Memorial Fountain (1902) by F. W. Commons
- Boer War Memorial (1906) by James White
- Burke & Wills Fountain (1867)
- SS Titanic Memorial Bandstand (1915) by G.W. Clegg
- Pioneer Miners Monument (1951)
- James Galloway Monument (1880)
Images for kids
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Snow scene in Sturt Gardens in 1905.
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Boer War Memorial.
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Burke and Wills Fountain.
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Thomas Moore Statue and the Ballarat Town Hall.
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Peter Lalor Statue.
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Queen Victoria Statue.
