Description
Grounds for the gardens were reserved in 1853 and first planted in 1870, making them one of the first reserved provincial botanical gardens in Australia. From 1881 the then council commissioned William Guilfoyle, curator of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, to draw up plans and design the gardens.
His design approach was to provide the Hamilton Botanic Gardens with wide lawns, curving pathways, lakes and islands, cacti and succulent rock gardens, colorful plants and contrasting foliage. Guilfoyle's first list of plan sketches and proposed plantings, now over 100 years old, is in the Hamilton Art Gallery. His creative skills created a unique landscape style and his gardens are now considered an integral part of Victoria's heritage. Covering four acres, the gardens as a whole were listed by the National Trust of Victoria in 1990 and contain eight tree species which are listed on the Register of Important Trees. The gardens feature areas of scientific interest, fountains, decorative fences and gates, animal and bird enclosures and are designed to blend in with the surrounding streetscapes to provide a pleasant view both inside and out.
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