GALLOP BOTANIC RESERVE
During the last quarter of the nineteenth century it appears to have been Government policy to set aside Botanic Reserves in many newly established towns in Queensland, and these were provided for during the initial surveys of the town areas. Cooktown was one of the towns so endowed in 1878 with an area of 154 acres set aside. The Reserve extends from the rocks on the coast in Cherry Tree Bay, south along the coast to Alligator Creek in Finch bay, up the creek to Hogg Street, Garden Street and a north, north easterly line back to the rocks.
The Botanic Reserve was vested in the Cooktown Municipality, and the Government allocated an annual grant of A$200 to assist in its development. The Council completed fencing of the Reserve early in 1885, enclosing the side nearest the town with palings:
In 1980, the Cook Shire Council resolved to name the Reserve the "Gallop Botanic Reserve" to commemorate the contributions of Mr RD Gallop and Mr GD Gallop, previous Administrators of the Shire.
Click here to view a map of the Botanic Reserve
Click here to view the list of species grown in the Botanic Gardens.
Cricket Games are held on a regular basis in the Gardens, why not stop to have a look? While you're there, have a look at the Nature's Powerhouse Interpretive and Information Centre.
COOKTOWN BOTANIC GARDENS
In October 1885 the Council employed a botanist, Anthony Perieh, to lay out the nursery for the gardens, which were to be established on the portion of the reserve closest to town. Then early in 1886 they contracted with John Welsh to dig over the gardens, giving him two months to complete the job. In March 1886 young trees and shrubs were ordered from the Queensland Acclimatisation Society in Brisbane, and Mr Perieh was busy getting them established in the gardens.
In 1890 C Watson and T Hassett were working as gardeners, and since there were now plants to look after, a well was sunk by Cross and Dufficy; and a pump, tank, and pipe reticulation installed. A second well was sunk at some later stage. The wells are still in use today. The water reticulation appliances have long been removed.
In 1892, a cottage was built on the Reserve and C Watson was installed as resident Curator of the Gardens. At this period the Gardens had been enclosed with a paling fence and was intensively developed with lawns, shrubs and garden beds, and named Queen's Park. Stone lined paths, stone pitched pools and stone work foot bridges were built along a creek descending from the hills behind Cherry Tree Bay. In later years Mr Claussen, father to the late Lennie Claussen, filled the position of Gardens' Curator.
During the period of greatest activity a wide range of trees and shrubs of both decorative and economic value were planted in the gardens. Shade and street trees in the Cook Monument Park, and in the main street were part ofthe Botanic Gardens activities at this time.
Little further attention was given to the gardens and they gradually fell into disrepair. In the mid 1970s Mr SE Stephens, Hon. Curator of History, James Cook Museum, identified 18 plant species still surviving. Some restoration of the stone pitched pools was undertaken in the early 1980s. By 1990 35 plant species had been identified as surviving species.
In 1984, Council commenced reconstruction of the Gardens with the assistance of Commonwealth Employment Funding. The original gardens area has been cleared, stonework rebuilt and trees removed. A walking track has been cleared to Finch Bay along the old dray track. A walking track continues from this track to Cherry Tree Bay.
The Gardens now feature an exotic plant section, a "palmetum", a section of native plants and a Solander's Gardens. The following list describes some of the plants within the gardens and these can be located by numbered plates at the base of the trees and plants.
For centuries the Guugu yimithirr lived on the banks of what is now called the Endeavour River. The plants and animals of the land and waters sustained these people. Some plants had particular significance and were essential elements for human survival.
HISTORY
In 1770, Lieutenant James Cook, beached his ship on the banks of the river to effect repairs. For around six weeks the scientific team of Joseph Banks, Daniel Solander, Sydney Parkinson and Alexander Buchan explored the area and collected biological specimens previously known only to Aborigines. They collected over 200 plant species, illustrated 190 and made 313 pages of notes. In the whole of the voyage of the Endeavour no other area of Australia was studied so intensely.
'Queen's Park' was established in 1878, just three years after the first immigrants arrived at Cook's Town in search of riches on the Palmer Goldfield. The concept was first raised in May 1876 as a means of gainful employment for prison labour. By the following year concerns were being raised that Chinese market gardeners and charcoal burners were establishing themselves in the proposed garden area.
Surveyor Starcke completed the necessary survey of 62.3ha (154 acres) in May 1878, and the Council assumed responsibility for development. £10 ($20) was offered for the best plan for the gardens. Surveyor Brittain's plan was adopted, a caretaker appointed and development started. Road access, walking tracks, fencing and, by 1879, a nursery were constructed. The next few years appear to have been a period of intense activity although detailed records have been lost.
In 1883 consideration was being given to leasing the Gardens. Fencing and layout of the nursery continued. During the 1880s, Council appears to have made major efforts to develop the Gardens including ordering trees and shrubs from the Acclimatisation Society. It was, perhaps in that period that the stone pitched waterways were completed. Was it possible that Thomas Pascoe focussed his attention on the Gardens between kerbing the town streets? That we may never know. Development faltered briefly in 1887 although a permanent gardener was once again employed the following year.
Later that decade a well was sunk. Charles Watson was appointed Gardener in 1890, a position he held until 1902. In 1893 administration was passed to a Board of Trustees. Damage from horses on the reserve and, a short while later, vandalism attracted the attention of the Trustees. A £10 ($20) reward was offered for information leading to the identification of the offenders. Watson was criticised in 1900 when it was noted he was selling plants privately during working hours and 'was to devote his time to the services of the Trustees and have no right to trade in plants on his own account and further he was not to cultivate flowers or plants as his own property in the Reserve'. His employment was terminated abruptly two years later. The reason was not stated.
His successors continued to sell produce from the Gardens for the benefit of the Trust. By 1905, however, the sales were restricted to specific times so that the Gardener could continue uninterrupted with his other duties.
The 1907 cyclone caused severe damage to the Gardens. Government initially declined to assist with the repair bill but by mid year a cheque for £56 ($112) was extracted from the Treasury following representations to the Premier.
Financial resources continued to be stretched in the ensuing years. By July 1910 it was alleged the gardens were being poorly maintained. The then gardener resigned a few weeks later. His replacement, M.Murphy, immediately set to work to clean up the facilities.
Weeding the area had long proved to be a major challenge. It is hardly surprising that by August 1912 Murphy was being castigated for failing to keep the weeds and grass under control. The additional 5 / - (50 cents) remuneration was apparently insufficient encouragement. A few months later Murphy was retrenched and J. Gallagher appointed as Gardener. Five years later the closure of the reserve was considered inevitable.
Efforts to lease the cottage and gardens were unsuccessful. Action was taken to sell off the assets at a public auction on 24 March 1917. The results of the sale are unknown.
For the next 62 years only the cricket pitch was used. In 1979 the Cooktown Festival of Arts Society sought Council approval to hold a festival in the Reserve. It proved to be the impetus for Council to restore the Botanic Gardens.
In 1982 a report was commissioned on which to base the proposal. Recommendations included-the retention of the original plantings, employment of a gardener, provision of visitor facilities and development of walking tracks.
Those recommendations have been largely implemented. Initially under the guidance of Paul Burkitt and later Jeffrey Waldeck, the rockpools were restored, plant species documented and dead trees removed. In 1996 a University of Queensland (Gatton College) team undertook the upgrading of walking tracks and the preparation of a management plan for the Reserve.
