Toomevara Lane Chinese Market Gardens facts for kids

The Toomevara Lane Chinese Market Gardens are a special heritage-listed area in Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia. They are also known as the Rockdale Market Gardens or Chinese Market Gardens. This site is important because it has been used as a market garden for a very long time. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999, which means it is protected for its historical value.

A Look Back: History of the Gardens

These market gardens have been used continuously for growing food for many years. They were very important for providing fresh vegetables to local communities. This was especially true during tough times like the Great Depression. During this period, many people struggled to find food. Chinese market gardens like this one were often the only place city people could get fresh vegetables.

What Do the Gardens Look Like?

The Toomevara Lane Market Gardens are a small part of a larger area that used to be full of market gardens. They still have some old buildings. One building is made of asbestos cement and has a gabled roof. There are also some sheds made of corrugated iron.

The garden itself is divided into small sections. Each section grows a different type of plant or vegetable. The whole area is surrounded by houses and sports fields.

As of 1999, the garden was still actively growing produce. The main building was in good condition. The site might also hold old items buried underground. These items could tell us more about its past as a market garden.

Even though the area around it has changed a lot, the garden itself looks much like it did a century ago. The buildings are still there, though some are a bit old and worn.

Why Are These Gardens Special?

The Toomevara Lane Market Gardens are very important for New South Wales. Here are some reasons why:

Continuous Farming History

These gardens have been used for growing food since at least the 1850s. This long history has created a unique landscape. You can see how farming methods have changed over time. This includes changes in the buildings and even the different groups of people who worked there.

Rare Survivors

Most market gardens from the mid-19th century are now gone. They were replaced by new buildings and city growth. These gardens are rare survivors. They show us what the area looked like long ago.

A Glimpse into the Past

When you visit the gardens, it feels like stepping back in time. There isn't much modern technology visible. This helps us imagine how market gardens looked and worked in the past. They remind us of the area's long farming history. The gardens also create a beautiful green space between city buildings and natural areas.

Unique in Sydney

The Toomevara Lane Market Gardens are one of only a few market gardens left in the Sydney area. They still use traditional ways of growing food. The site is also important because it shows connections to Chinese, German, Irish, and Cornish communities. These groups all played a part in its history.

Long-Term Ownership

The land has been used as a market garden since the 1860s. It still looks like a working farm. This shows how farming has continued here for a very long time.

Important People Connected to the Gardens

The Toomevara Lane Market Garden has local importance because of the people linked to it:

• Peter Herrmann and his family: They were well-known market gardeners in Sydney in the mid to late 1800s. They were among the first German immigrants to start market gardening in Sydney.
• Peter Henry Wright: He ran the market garden from 1875 to 1890. This was one of the longest times a single person owned a market garden back then.
• James O'Meara and the O'Meara family: They owned the site from 1899 to 1960. This was the longest period of ownership in the garden's history.
• John Wilson and John Hart: John Wilson was the original owner of the land. His lawyer, John Hart, helped start the market garden in 1866.

The wetland area next to the gardens is also important. It provides a home for fish and birds.

The Toomevara Lane Chinese Market Gardens were officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.