Page 404 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Australia

402  VIC T ORIA

k Royal Botanic Gardens and Kings Domain

These adjoining gardens, established in 1852, form the green heart
of Melbourne on what was originally a swamp on the edge of the
city. The Botanic Gardens house one of the finest collections of
botanic species in the world, as well as being highly regarded
for their landscape design. William Guilfoyle, curator of the Gardens
between 1873 and 1909, used his knowledge of English garden
design to create a horticultural paradise. Kings Domain, once
an inner-city wilderness, became instead a gracious parkland.
Its civic function grew over the years,
with the establishment of its monu-
ments, statues, cultural venues and the
hilltop residence of the Governor of Victoria.

Pioneer Women’s Garden
This sunken, formal garden was built in 1934 to honour
the memory of Victoria’s founding women. A still,
central pool is adorned by a bronze, female statue.

KEY
1 Observatory Gate Precinct
2 Sidney Myer Music Bowl is an
architecturally acclaimed music
“shell” which can accommodate
up to 15,000 people for open-air
concerts and ballets.
3 The Temple of the Winds
4 The Perennial Border, based on
designer Gertrude Jekyll’s traditional
colour scheme, is planted with
pastels, contrasting with grey and
silver foliage.
5 The Ian Potter Foundation
Children’s Garden
6 La Trobe’s Cottage was shipped
from England in 1839 and was home
to Victoria’s first governor, Charles La . Shrine of Remembrance
Trobe. The building is now preserved Based on the description of the Mausoleum of
by the National Trust. Halicarnassus in Asia Minor, now Turkey, this
imposing monument honours Australian soldiers
who gave their lives in war.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp493–4 and pp526–9