LISSNER PARK - charterstowers.qld.gov.au

144
LISSNER PARK CHARTERS TOWERS

Transcript of LISSNER PARK - charterstowers.qld.gov.au

LISSNER PARK CHARTERS TOWERS

LISSNER PARK

A conservation management plan for the Charters Towers Regional Council

© COPYRIGHT Allom Heritage, June 2014 93061r50

LISSNER PARK

CONTENTS ■ i

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 BACKGROUND 1

1.2 THIS REPORT 1

HOW TO USE THIS REPORT 1

1.3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2

1.4 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS 2

2 HISTORY 4

2.1 PARK PREHISTORY 4

THE PASTORAL PHASE 4 THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD 4 THE FIRST CRUSHING MACHINE 4 THE LAND 5 THE SAWMILL 5 E H T PLANT 5 THE MUNICIPALITY 6 RESERVES 7 THE RAILWAY 7 THE BONNIE DUNDEE MILL 8 OTHER RESERVES 8

2.2 LISSNER PARK 8

LISSNER PARK 10 SECOND IMPROVEMENTS 10 BANDS AND THE BAND ROTUNDA 10 MASS MEETINGS 11 PROGRESS 11 RECREATIONAL PURSUITS 12 THE COMMONWEALTH FOUNTAIN 12 GEORGE JOHNSON 13 THE BOER WAR MEMORIAL KIOSK 15 WILDLIFE 16 THE DEEP SINKING SCHEME 16 WORLD WAR ONE 17

2.3 LISSNER PARK MATURES 17

LISSNER PARK

CONTENTS ■ ii

GATHERINGS 18 DEPRESSION YEARS 19 WORLD WAR TWO 19 AFTER THE WAR 20

2.4 TO THE PRESENT 20

CLYDE BERRYMAN 20 THE HANN MONUMENT 21 THE CENTENARY FOUNTAIN 21 FURTHER CHANGES 21 PARK RANGER 22 THE JUPITER MOSMAN MEMORIAL 22 PRESENT DAY 22

3 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 24

FENCES 24 PATHS 25 THE FERNERY 27 DECORATIVE BEDS 27 CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND 28 BUILT STRUCTURES 28 THE DUCK POND 32 TREES 32 RECENT MEMORIALS AND CHANGES 34

4 WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT 35

5 A VISION FOR LISSNER PARK 39

6 HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK 41

USING THIS CHAPTER 41

6.1 APPROACH 41

LISSNER PARK

CONTENTS ■ iii

ACTION INFORMED BY SIGNIFICANCE 41 BURRA CHARTER 42 USE 42 THE FOOTPRINT OF THE PARK 42 INTEGRITY 43 THE 1920 LAYOUT AND FORM 43 STRUCTURES 43 LANDSCAPE 43 INTRUSIVE ELEMENTS 44 ZONES FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT 44 VIEWS 45

6.2 MANAGEMENT 45

CONTINUITY OF ADVICE 45 HERITAGE APPROVALS 46 POLICY REVIEW 46

6.3 VISITORS 46

VISITOR TYPES 47 VISITOR FACILITIES 47 ACCESS AND PARKING 48 INTERPRETATION 48

6.4 THE ZONES 49

ZONE 1: ENTRANCE AND DEANE STREET AVENUE 50 POLICIES 50 ZONE 2: BOER WAR MEMORIAL KIOSK 52 POLICIES 52 ZONE 3: COMMONWEALTH FOUNTAIN 53 POLICIES 53 ZONE 4: BAND ROTUNDA 54 POLICIES 54 ZONE 5: FERNERY 55 POLICIES 55 ZONE 6: FORMER RESIDENCE AND WORKSHOPS 56 POLICIES 56 ZONE 7: NORTH EAST CORNER AND PLAYGROUND 57 POLICIES 57 ZONE 8: DUCK POND 58 POLICIES 58 ZONE 9: THE FIELDS 59 POLICIES 59 ZONE 10: METER HOUSE GARDEN AND MOSMAN CREEK 61 POLICIES 61

7 APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY 62

LISSNER PARK

CONTENTS ■ iv

7.1 DETAILED SURVEY 62

7.2 TREE INVENTORY 65

8 APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL 121

8.1 SOURCES 121

8.2 ISIDOR LISSNER 121

8.3 GEORGE JOHNSON, CURATOR 122

8.4 TIMELINE 124

8.5 CHARTERS TOWERS POPULATION 127

8.6 LISSNER PARK CURATORS, GARDENERS, PARK SUPERVISORS 128

8.7 THE STRUCTURE NAMES 128

8.8 QUEENSLAND HERITAGE REGISTER ENTRY 129

LISSNER PARK 1

INTRODUCTION

■ 1

1 INTRODUCTION

he land which became known as Lissner Park was set aside as a Temporary Reserve for Public Recreation Purposes in 1883, some 6 years after the one

square mile of the city was laid out. That land had previously been set aside as a reserve for railway purposes and as a Water Reserve.

1 . 1 B A C K G R O U N D

Lissner Park is located near the centre of Charters Towers, three blocks to the north of Gill Street (the main commercial street) and bounded by Anne, Church, Plummer, Deane and Bridge Street. The park is a recreational reserve of some 7 hectares. The park is well grassed with a range of over 250 mature perimeter and avenue trees and early structures including kiosk, fountains and duck pond and more recent structures including toilet block and Parks maintenance buildings. The site is entered in the Queensland Heritage Register maintained by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. As a result the QHC must approve proposed changes to the site in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.

1 . 2 T H I S R E P O R T

The Charters Towers Regional Council has commissioned this report as a part of their ongoing conservation and management of historic assets owned by the Council. During recent years, small changes have been proposed to the park and it has been recommended that a Conservation Management Plan would assist the Council and its officers to guide change so that decisions can take into account the cultural significance of the place. The report examines the history and development of the site and its establishment, and assesses its cultural significance and those parts of the place that are of significance. Conservation policies have been prepared to conserve the significant aspects of the place while allowing the place to change to meet community expectations.

H O W T O U S E T H I S R E P O R T

This report has been prepared following the principles and guidelines to the Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter).

T

1 Lissner Park is bounded by Anne,

Church, Plummer,Bridge and Deane Streets. [Google Earth]

LISSNER PARK 1

INTRODUCTION

■ 2

This report has however been modified to better suit the needs of the Charters Towers Regional Council for a practical document to guide every day decision making about the place. For that reason the report begins by understanding the history and the physical evidence of the place which enables us to better understand what is special about Lissner Park. A vision is then established for the possible future of the park. Chapter 6: How to look after Lissner Park is the critical chapter for anyone making decisions about the place. The site has been divided into 10 zones based on their historic use. Each zone includes a drawing identifying significant features, historic photographs where appropriate to understand the area and policies about how the area may be changed or conserved. There are also a range of more general policies to guide any change to the place.

1 . 3 A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This report has been prepared by Allom Heritage with historical research carried out by Charters Towers historian, Michael Brumby. His understanding of the history of this site and of the broader context of Charters Towers has been invaluable in the preparation of this report. His work is contained in Chapter 2: History and Chapter 8: Historical appendix. The assistance of the Charters Towers Regional Council and in particular Bob Read, Manager Facilities and Mr Troy Risdale, Parks Supervisor for the preparation of a detailed survey recording all of the vegetation in the park and for his knowledge of the history of the vegetation and the park more generally.

1 . 4 S U M M A R Y O F F I N D I N G S

This study finds that Lissner Park is culturally significant as an early public park in Queensland, one of a number of similar places in the state whose origin may be traced to the British “Select Committee on Public Works” of 1833 but one particularly shaped by the historical circumstances of the early founding of Charters Towers. The park was laid out in the late 1880s and had taken its final form by the early years of the 20th century under the direction of its first two curators. The contribution of George Johnson is considered particularly important. Evidence of the early form survives in the layout of the park, in pathways and in remnant avenues of early trees. Early structures and park furniture also survive from the period including fountain, a band rotunda and the particularly significant Boer War Memorial Kiosk together with the remnants of the early fernery, fencing and the duck pond. The park is also significant as the earliest green space within the city. The only such space within the ‘one square mile’ of earliest Charters Towers. Its history as the recreation centre includes not only passive use but also organised activities such as cricket and tennis. It was too the centre of social and political

LISSNER PARK 1

INTRODUCTION

■ 3

activity in the fetes and processions that took place and as the central repository for memorial structures. The study finds that the significance of Lissner Park be acknowledged and action be taken to arrest the damage to significant features of the place and to repair or restore aspects of the park that will make it, once again, the centre of passive recreational activity at Charters Towers. Notwithstanding the historic and social significance of Lissner Park the study recognises the need to make the park and its use relevant to the present generation of potential users. To this end it is suggested that some changes be made to the park and that more active short term use of sections of the park may be appropriate. One major issue remains. It is clear that there are conflicting values between the cultural significance of Lissner Park and the demands of the broader natural environment in the form of the flying fox colony. It is clear that the cultural significance of Lissner Park is adversely affected by the damage to vegetation caused by the colony. Early and important trees have been lost and indeed significant early trees continue to be threatened. The very presence of the colony makes Lissner Park an unpleasant place to be and it is understood that visitor numbers are at an all time low. The study concludes on this sober note and recommends strongly that the issue be addressed with renewed urgency and commitment to an early resolution.

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 4

2 HISTORY

issner Park is the major landscaped area of the city of Charters Towers. It demonstrates the key characteristics of a late nineteenth and early twentieth

century public gardens design along with the social, political and cultural expressions associated with Charters Towers when it was the second city of Queensland. Lissner Park has a special association with the work of the curator George Johnson who was a great authority on tropical plant life in North Queensland who brought about the zenith of the park as a public space.

2 . 1 P A R K P R E H I S T O R Y

T H E P A S T O R A L P H A S E

In 1845, the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt first described the land here on the western side of the Burdekin River. George Gray later reported the country as covered by ironbark and other trees, which grew over the place. The soil was fertile enough although not particularly rich in pasture. (Gray: 27) In 1861 the land was opened up for European occupancy when Frederick Hodgson applied for the adjoining pastoral runs of Texas and Oregon. Neither Hodgson nor their subsequent owner John Melton Black occupied the runs given the nature of the vegetation and lack of surface water in the streams flowing into the Burdekin for most of the year. Hence the country was largely disregarded until the outbreak of gold prospecting parties in search of new fields from the Ravenswood Goldfield in late 1871.

T H E D I S C O V E R Y O F G O L D

Hugh Mosman, his brother Adam, John Fraser and George Clarke, along with an Indigenous horse boy Jupiter comprised one such party. They approached the cluster of conical and square topped hills later known as Towers Hill from Ravenswood in December 1871. (NMR: 23/12/1891) There Jupiter remembered “I had been out and found a nice piece of stone and went back to inform Hugh Mosman and he brought a pick and we dug it out, and I can assure you that is what started the mine called the North Australian.” (TDB: 20/02/1939) Jupiter’s discovery of gold had taken place within the Gap of Towers Hill in the upper reaches of Mosman Creek. A rush of thousands of miners principally from Ravenswood and the Cape River quickly followed. They took up mining claims along reefs within the area around Towers Hill. A permanent settlement named Charters Towers was quickly established to the north of the hill astride a ridge between Deane’s Gully and Mosman Creek, along what was later surveyed as Mosman Street.

T H E F I R S T C R U S H I N G M A C H I N E

To meet the need for crushing machines on the new reefing district of Charters Towers, John Deane removed his Defiance mill from Ravenswood around May 1872 and re-erected it below the Charters Towers township on Mosman Creek.

L

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 5

Deane chose this site on the creek because it was closest to the St Patrick and Queen lines of reefs as well as to the reefs around Towers Hill. Most importantly was that water for the mill could be reliably sourced from a spring near the creek: hence no dam was ever built on this part of Mosman Creek. The Defiance, which commenced crushing on Tuesday 25 June 1872, was where the current rugby league grounds are to the east of Lissner Park. Ore carts from below the town were driven to the mill down Mosman Street before turning at the present day Mary Street - Deane Street intersection. They then crossed the southern section of today’s Lissner Park onto Church Street. The other three crushing machines that arrived on the goldfield before the end of 1872 were erected where the other major township on the goldfield of Millchester developed. (RM: 25/05/1871; 22/06/1872; 06/07/1872)

T H E L A N D

Floodwater accumulated upstream from Deane’s machine to where Deane’s Gully joined the larger flow of Mosman Creek from the west. “It spread over the whole flat in one great sheet; while if the rain be heavy, a large quantity is thrown back into lower Deane-street…” (TNM: 27/06/1889 - 7) Jupiter Mosman knew this section of Mosman Creek in 1872 as the place where “we used to wash our clothes in a lagoon where Lissner Park is now.” (TDB: 20/02/1939) The same locality had been remembered some time earlier by Flinders pastoralist George Gray as where “one of the cattle camps of Mr Cunningham’s [from the other side of the Burdekin River at Burdekin Downs] was situated in close proximity to the present Defiance mill site, and the hut erected there was the pioneer building in Charters Towers.” (TNM: 09/10/1899)

T H E S A W M I L L

In 1874 Thomas Mills erected the goldfield’s first sawmill on the western side of what became Lissner Park. This was on the southern corner of Deane and Jane Streets. Part of his plant encroached on what was later formed into Deane Street and the park. Mills sold his sawmill to William Casey in 1875 who maintained the mill there until 1886.

E H T P L A N T

EHT Plant who had erected the Venus mill at Millchester and left in 1872, returned to Charters Towers in 1876 in a new venture. He and his partner Jackson made arrangements to re-treat the tailings from Defiance mill at five shillings per ton. They sited their pyrites machine upstream of the Defiance mill on Mosman Creek on the site of Hubert's old slaughter yards. The mill site was west of today’s Lissner Park on land currently taken up by the lower sports ovals at Blackheath and Thornburgh College. (NA: 04/11/1876; 11/11/1876; TNM: 25/11/1876; 14/09/1880) But there were public concerns with this inroad onto life in the one square mile: “Mr Plant’s dam is so situated as to catch the entire of the accumulated filth etc of the town conveyed to it by every shower of rain. ... During the past few days the stench from the dam is intolerable ... death

2 Casey’s Saw Mill was constructed n

1874. [Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 6

dealing gases.” (TNM:09/01/1878) “Water flows down to the flat collecting all faecal matter which is a great cost to deodorize and pit…” (TNM: 10/05/1881) To this day Blackheath and Thornburgh College students call this area of the school as the Woggie or Woggie Pit. (The road and telegraph line north to the township of Dalrymple crossed Mosman Creek between the Bonnie Dundee and Defiance mills via Mosman and Bridge Streets beside present day Lissner Park.

T H E M U N I C I P A L I T Y

The Municipality of Charters Towers comprising one square mile was declared in June 1877. As one of the smallest ever declared in Queensland, its size acknowledged the town being situated on a goldfield whose civic improvements would be moderated by mining development. “Paddocks and homesteads are creeping up to the town every day, and the frontage area is gradually diminishing. The public should not lose sight of their own interests and should apply without delay that a town common, recreation reserves, cricket and botanical, should be surveyed and proclaimed.” (TNM: 07/02/1877) So the Municipal Council set about making improvements to the quality of life of the town’s residents. The council knew that "in laying out a tropical town, the chief consideration should be the health and convenience of its inhabitants. The streets should be wide enough to allow for tree planting and open spaces left for recreation.” (TNM: 29/09/1875) However, the size of the town did not allow its two main streets to realise the first while the latter took some to materialise.

3 The one square mile was measured

from the corner of Gill and Mosman Streets. [Allom Lovell Architects

2001]

4 A detail of the 1879 plan of Charters

Towers showing the Water Reserve and the Railway Reserve on the area

marked Saw Mill. This was to become Lissner Park. [Charters Towers and

Dalrymple Archive]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 7

R E S E R V E S

The compact size of the municipality compelled the council to look beyond the one square mile for larger tracts of land for municipal use. In 1878 Council applied for a number of reserves that included one for public recreation comprising 160 acres on north side of the road leading to Sandy Creek; a botanical gardens comprising twenty-three acres beyond the south east corner of the town boundary; a quarry, and a manure depot: both on Plant’s Ridge (TH: 26/01/1878; QGG: 1879 - 821) As well, water reserves were gazetted inside the one square mile. The reserve on Mosman Creek near Elizabeth Street became the prime source for town water in the first two decades where a reservoir was built to hold water that flowed from a spring. Another, “ten acres in a square” was gazetted on land west of the Defiance mill. This extended and adjoined Casey’s Mill and covered the northern part of present day Lissner Park between the two mills. (TH: 26/01/1878) Town surveyor Doyle believed the flat here was a good source for water to extinguish fires, and “even for domestic use the water, there having been filtrated through a bed of sand.” Doyle had noticed water carriers at times collecting water from the wells there for household use. (TNM: 26/02/1880)

T H E R A I L W A Y

In 1879 a reserve for railway purposes comprising 46 acres, 35 perches was gazetted over land below this water reserve: that is, over the southern part of present day Lissner Park and adjoining streets, which commenced from the Mosman and Mary Street intersection: “The line will come in from [Millchester] under Hospital Hill and through the cricket ground on the flat below the Masonic Hall.” It took until the middle of 1881 to scupper the aspirations of Charters Towers’ residents to locate a station there within the town boundary. (TNM: 17/05/1881) Instead the railway station was placed at Queenton

5 Left

In 1878 Council applied for a number of reserves outside of the town

boundary. The Botanical Gardens Reserve is to the south of the boundary.

Below

is the Railway Reserve based on documentary evidence.

[Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 8

equidistant between the two townships of Charters Towers and Millchester, which opened in December 1882. (QGG: 1879 – 386; TNM: 07/11/1877; 17/05/1881; 04/08/1881; 11/07/1913 - 2)

T H E B O N N I E D U N D E E M I L L

In 1883 EHT Plant replaced his pyrites machine with a new fifteen stamp crushing mill called the Bonnie Dundee. As the mill required more water, Plant applied for extra water rights on Mosman Creek, which increased his entitlement from around four acres to over nine. As far as editor of The Northern Miner, Thadeus O’Kane was concerned, if the mill owners [such as Plant] had their way, “there would be no living in the town, the inhabitants would be smoked and choked out … There is not a square left in the town by the duffer surveyor who laid it off, not a breathing space nor a lung within the municipality. (TNM: 26/04/1883 – 2; Machine Areas, 12, 55) This brought about the government agreeing to securing land between Plant’s engorging water right and mill to the west, and the Defiance in the east for public purposes: that is over the land that had been set aside initially as a water reserve and partly over the railway reserve. 18 acres, 3 roods, 34 perches was gazetted by the Queensland Government as a “temporary reserve for public recreation purposes” on 15 May 1883 (QGG: 1883- 1351; TNM: 19/05/1883 - 2) It was defined as the land within Anne, Church, Plummer, Bridge, and Deane Streets to cover what became known as Lissner Park, which was to be under the control of the Municipal Council.

O T H E R R E S E R V E S

The reserve’s use for pursuing recreational activity to circumvent the inroads of milling activity and civilize the country took some years to materialise. But it became the town’s only hope given the botanical reserve was cancelled and the recreation reserve beyond the Sandy Creek Road was never developed. Other recreational sites were brought into, or were already in effect around the goldfield for sporting activity. This included the Queenton Cricket Reserve, the racecourse and the showgrounds. A recreation reserve was gazetted on Richmond Hill in 1886. This was developed as a cycling and football ground, which is now known as Friemann Oval. A private sports reserve was commenced on the outskirts of town at Plum Tree Creek in 1889. It was called Mowbray Park but was not successful. (TNM: 18/10/1889, 12/11/1890) Harvey’s Reserve on the corner of Dalrymple Road and Hackett Terrace was named Sayers Park. This was where the Charters Towers Cricket Club was later headquartered. It was renamed Centenary Park in 1972, and finally after raising the weir in 1996 and with Council recycling grey water on northern green sites, it started to take on a park appearance.

2 . 2 L I S S N E R P A R K

In 1885, a government grant of £350 was first spent on clearing stumps and rubbish from the reserve. (TNM: 07/01/1885) Then Council instructed

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 9

Townsville nurseryman Ben Gulliver to prepare a planting plan. In 1886 Gulliver planted 400 trees around the reserve, sixty-six feet apart. (TNM: 08/10/1886) Securing the park as a whole required further action. Its western boundary along Deane was in essence a gully that drained a large portion of water out of the one square mile into Mosman Creek. This resulted in flooding over the flat. Accordingly the flow of water through Deane Street that commenced above Gill Street had to be directed away from the body of the park. In 1883 it was at least hoped that the street would be navigable in dry weather. (TNM: 16/07/1883; TNM: 06/05/1885) In 1884 two large-sized channels were constructed by council day labour with a thoroughfare between. This was built from Gill Street to Anne Street and completed in 1885. Here the channels merged above the southwest corner of the recreation reserve. Stone pitched channeling was continued along the eastern side of Deane Street to direct the water into Mosman Creek so as to make the reserve flood free. Even so, extreme flood events filled this part of the park: during a hailstorm in 1903 and the big flood of 1946. (TNM: 02/11/1903 - 35) In 1886, William Casey moved his sawmill from the western side of the reserve and was compensated for the move. His machine area was subsequently taken up by Walton and Milgate’s foundry. Four squatters who occupied the reserve at this time were also compensated when they agreed to move their humpies out. Not so Denis Collins: “It appears there are some plum trees growing on the land which Collins wished to live and die under.” Council enacted By-Law 72, ordering Collins to move out. (TNM: 11/08/1886)

6 The 1887 Newcombe plan showing

Lissner Park as a Recreation Reserve. The proximity to Plant’s Mill and the

Defiance Mill is still apparent. [Charters Towers and Dalrymple

Archive]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 10

L I S S N E R P A R K

In September 1888, Robert Russell moved at a meeting of the Municipal Council that the Recreation Reserve be known as Lissner Park. At the time Isidor Lissner (1833-1902) represented the people of Charters Towers as the member for Kennedy. He was one of the leading merchants of the goldfield with a general store on Mosman Street. Lissner had provided financial backing to miners in the first decade of the goldfield and was a declared favourite. As the Council was reminded by Russell: “Mr Lissner was an old and respected citizen and had helped to get the reserve.” The motion was carried with a casting vote from the mayor. (TNM: 07/03/1883; TNM: 03/10/1888) Since its gazetting five years earlier, the locality around Lissner Park had progressed with the Lutheran Church being erected in Anne Street in 1886 with cottages and villa residences going up in Anne and neighbouring streets. Another indicator of progress was when hotels were erected nearby along lower Mosman Street. William Casey installed the Imperial Hotel on the Mary Street corner in 1884, which he followed with the Park Hotel at the very end of Mosman opposite the park’s entrance in early 1888. (TNM: 08/05/1888) The Waverley Hotel was opened in between on the corner of Mosman and Jane Streets in 1889.

S E C O N D I M P R O V E M E N T S

When a further government grant of £175 spurred on the development of Lissner Park in 1889, there was much public commentary on how it should be best spent. Foremost was to lay out walks, provide proper shade trees given many of the first plantings had died, and to tame the creeks: “Running the two watercourse into one, planting both sides with trees and making a broad promenade from the gate at the intersection of Deane and Anne Streets to the creek and a cross walk coming out at the gate opposite Clancy’s [Park] hotel.” (TNM: 22/07/1889 - 3) The key to transforming the grounds into useable parkland came with the appointment of Alfred Powell as the park’s first gardener in 1889. An on-site cottage was provided adjacent to the confluence of the Deane Street drain and Mosman Creek. However his residence was soon in need of repairs because of white ants.

B A N D S A N D T H E B A N D R O T U N D A

“On Sundays the bands could play sacred selections, and on moonlight nights in Summer open-air concerts could be given. The charges for admission would pay the bands better than touting from public houses, which is not a very elevating occupation.” (TNM: 22/06/1889) A bush house, another commentator felt, should be made sufficiently large to “accommodate a band on Sunday afternoons and a small charge could be made for sitting accommodation. We commend the idea to the Council.” (NM: 19/06/1889, 21/06/1889) “This place, if built, should be in the centre of the Park, so that it would be approached from all parts of the Park; and also it could easily be improved by flower borders and a fountain in front.” (TNM: 21/06/1889) A band rotunda was not built until 1902 even though architect W

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 11

G Smith Jr first tabled drawings in July 1889 and a building committee had been formed to raise funds. Notwithstanding a lack of facilities, the Kennedy Regimental Band under Huddy presented the first concert in the park on 23 June 1889. William Hooper’s Royal Band followed with sacred music performed to a crowd of 400 on the Sunday afternoon of 21 July 1889. (TNM: 22/07/1889 - 3) C H Hooper and the Fire Brigade Band and the Kennedy Regiment Band under J Emmerson played to open the band stand on Sunday 13 June 1902. (TNM: 14/06/1902 - 5) Lissner Park became a permanent reserve when the municipal council was appointed trustee on 17 August 1891.

M A S S M E E T I N G S

In the 1870s and early 1880s, there were only two small hotel halls in Mosman Street in addition to two benevolent society halls in Gill Street to hold public meetings. (Larger forums were conducted on Mosman Street outside hotels etc.) Hence the use of the ample open ground making up the recreation reserve was a natural progression as the population and disparate interests grew on the goldfield. The first known public meeting held on the reserve took place after an Anti-Chinese League formed in 1886. (TNM: 01/10/1886) In July 1889, 2,500 miners and local people assembled to discuss and give support to the strikers at the Day Dawn P C Mine. They had gone on strike over the measures taken by the owners to prevent gold from being stolen. A gathering in August 1889 gave support to the government’s proposal to introduce an eight hour day, while a meeting called by the Charters Towers Branch of the Australian Labor Federation met in the park on 1 March 1891.

P R O G R E S S

A paltry piece of ground, shabbily planted and devoid of any particular beauty does duty as the public gardens or park. Some enterprise and a little money are all that is needed to provide a place of public resort, where rest from garish streets, and relief from the scorching sun could be secured. There are scores of wealthy men on the Towers and an organized endeavour should be made by them to remedy the existing state of affairs. (TSM: 17/08/1895) The photograph that accompanied this unfavourable commentary showed a fenced and well-grassed park crossed by around fifty young trees planted in

7 On the left is the earliest photograph of Lissner Park showing the trees laid out

in avenues.

On the right is the Band Rotunda in 1915 as the focus of musical activities.

[Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 2013220.4889 and

2013220.4951]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 12

avenues. Whilst some were four metres in height, there was nothing more to show how the ground was being civilized. Tree growth was then severely retarded during in the Federation Drought, which did not break until 1903. “The silky oak were fast dying while the younger trees were expected to go the same way.” (TNM: 13/06/1902 - 3) The opportunity however was there to “replant with weeping figs and other varieties suitable for the climate”. The conversion of “a howling wilderness” was a struggle while mine-water flowed freely passed the park from out of Thomas Mills’ Day Dawn United Mine at the top end of Deane Street.

R E C R E A T I O N A L P U R S U I T S

A cricket wicket was set up in the southern end of Lissner Park in the late 1880s. New netting and green matting, which were installed in 1889 promised practice on the wicket to be “a little more inviting than it had been in the past”. (TNM: 28/10/1889 - 2) A second wicket was added some time later. When the Charters Towers Lawn Tennis Club formed around 1884, they used part of the show grounds reserve to play on. The club went on to erect a court below the Duck Pond in Lissner Park around 1889. An additional court was applied for in 1904; both remained in use until the 1960s. (TNM: 14/12/1886 - 3; 29/01/1891 – 3

T H E C O M M O N W E A L T H F O U N T A I N

In 1901, the Commonwealth Fountain was christened by the wife of the mayor, Mrs Paul, “after which Alderman ED Miles, chairman of the Divisional Board formally presented it to the people of Charters Towers and turned the water on. (TNM: 02/01/1901) The fountain’s opening in the centre of the park climaxed Commonwealth celebrations that were held in Charters Towers on 1 January 1901. The day had begun with a procession down Gill and Mosman Streets and ended in Lissner Park with 8,000 children in attendance. The fountain was designed by local architect Walter Hunt and erected by J Emmerson.

8On the left is a tennis party in 1914 on

the antbed court.

On the right is a view of the park along the north south axis with both features

fenced. [Charters Towers and Dalrymple

Archive, Neg No 2013220.4860 and 2013213.4574]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 13

G E O R G E J O H N S O N

Following the death of Alfred Powell in late 1904, George Johnson (1862-1936) was appointed curator of Lissner Park when he took up residence in the gardener’s cottage with his wife Bridget and their five children. (TNM: 12/12/1904 - 8; 23/10/1905 - 4) George’s father had been a gardener on the Victorian Goldfields and George had worked previously for the renowned Townsville gardener Ben Gulliver. A number of employees supported Johnson with the upkeep of Lissner Park that included sweeping paths, weeding garden beds, using a horse drawn mower to cut open grassed areas, watering trees and shrubs with water pumped from a well. George played a pivotal role in selecting and propagating materials for Lissner Park at a time when the development of public gardens in North Queensland was in its infancy. To build up plant stocks, Johnson conducted collecting tours of North Queensland especially around Innisfail, Kuranda and Cairns. Johnson became well respected. He is recognised as the person who introduced guinea grass to North Queensland but more so for cultivating acalyphas as an ornamental. The bush house beside his residence became the centre-piece for his plant propagation and cultivar work. A keen interest in gardening developed in Charters Towers at this time that ranged from growing flowers, vegetables and tropical plants where the bush house took on special appeal. The Benevolent Horticultural Society formed in 1905 to encourage everyday gardeners. Mr and Mrs EHT Plant were heavily involved with this society with the gardens around their residence Thornburgh being of note. The society was renamed the Towers Horticultural Society in 1906 and remained active up until at least the 1960s. (TNM: 15/09/1905 - 7) Johnson gave advice and guidance to the Charters Towers Horticultural Society on a regular basis and judged for the Townsville Horticultural Society. (TNM: 12/09/1924 - 2; 03/10/1924 - 2)

The park went through a number of important developments and improvements under curator George Johnson. Most important was in 1907 when the park was fenced with wire to keep out the city’s straying goat population. Self-closing gates and stiles were also provided. The bush house or fernery was trebled in size while more garden beds were added: “The alleged

9 On the left is the fountain with a fence

and decorative shaped beds.

On the right is the band rotunda also with decorative gardens . [Charters

Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 2013213.4577 and band rotunda]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 14

fountain has long been an eyesore with a derelict fence and a few stray plants [today] it was one of the most lovely spots in the park. A circular plot has been ploughed, brought into good tithe and sown with couch. This will be laid out with flower beds and foliage plants, shrubs etc. Four powerful electric lights will be installed 37 ft high and brilliantly illuminated.” (TNM: 29/01/1907 - 3) “Under [Johnson’s] care the park deservedly became one of the show spots of North Queensland. The writer can well recall his first visit to Lissner Park when Mr Johnson showed him over this famous garden. Astonishment and bewilderment was the order of the day. 'Sap' had never seen before, or since, such wonderful Rex Begonias. They were a revelation. Their glorious color tones, their gigantic leaves of beautiful texture, were indeed a surprise to one who had been used to seeing Rex Begonias grown in six inch pots in glass houses. Another startling sight was the wonderful collection of northern ferns, including great tree ferns, all growing in their natural way, amid rocks and waterfalls. One hardly recognised the ferns. They were so healthy, so vividly green, and with leaves so large, one thought that if 'the Little Politician’s Spirit paid a visit to this soil glade how he must have smiled, and been pleased at the beauty that George Johnson had created for the working man of Charters Towers to enjoy. Lissner Park under Johnson reached its zenith.” (TDB: 31/03/1936 – 9)

In 1924, tensions rose between Johnson and members of the council’s gardens committee over rising costs and an increasing workload. Staffing had shrunk to Johnson and a boy. The care and maintenance of Sayers Park and the town hall gardens in Gill Street had been added to their list of chores. The sticking point however was the energy Johnson was putting into growing plants, which were made available for sale to the public. Alderman Mann, himself in business as a seed merchant, nurseryman and fruitier in Gill Street was especially displeased. Both Johnson and the boy were released from their employment in October 1924. Johnson found work under the curator of Townsville’s Botanical Gardens whom he replaced. George Johnson died in Townsville on 12 October 1936 aged 73.

10 The inside of the fernery in 1914

showing a collection of exotic potted plants and staghorns. [Charters

Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 2006157.2530]

11 George Johnson watering the garden ca 1915 outside the fernery. Note the

enclosures to the side which may have been used for birds. [Charters Towers

and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 2005.2242 George Johnson]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 15

T H E B O E R W A R M E M O R I A L K I O S K

At the turn of the twentieth century, a Patriotic Fund raised £5,000 to support those whose husbands might be shot in the Boer War. With £1,200 remaining, the subscribers took up E D Miles’ suggestion that they should “put up a good building in commemoration of the valour of the troops who went from Charters Towers to uphold the flag”. (TNM: 23/04/1909, 14/10/1910) Local man Fred Jorgensen, who was director of the Technical College in Mosman Street, won a design competition for a building or structure to be erected in Lissner Park. Local industries especially Walton’s Foundry across the road in Deane Street set out to have Jorgensen’s design erected using local materials. (Waltons had already provided new gates for the entrance.) Fred Johnson’s tender of £1,017 was accepted to build the structure. (TNM: 22/03/1910) Seven thousand people were present on 13 October when Mayor Sydney Thorp acknowledged the kiosk’s blessing to the community. Aside from it being a reminder of the valour of their soldiers, Thorp said, it would be an ornament to the park and it would be very useful. Yet at heart was the British Empire: Such an empire was theirs; and for such reason they built this kiosk and cut the names of their soldiers in gold, that they might be handed down. The kiosk was not fenced, hedged, or protected and was for every man, woman and child in the community.” (NM: 14/10/1910) The celebrations lasted all day and during the evening the band rotunda, fountain and kiosk were brightly lit for a concert. (Brumby, People and Places: 23) Patrick Bingham-Hall in his Austral Eden published by Watermark Press in 2006 judged the kiosk to be one of the top twenty works of twentieth century Australian architecture. (http://www.archmedia.com.au/aa/aaissue 20th Century Classics) Local businessman E H Lindsey leased the kiosk in 1910 in order to sell refreshments. (ET: 05/10/1910)

12The Boer War Memorial Kiosk in 1914

being used a place for refreshments. The fountain garden in the background

was well established. [Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg

No 2006157.2545]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 16

W I L D L I F E

Native and even exotic animals became a feature of the park. These were caged beside the duck pond along Church Street. Animals included echidnas, dingoes, wallabies and at one stage a monkey. Birds, including parrots, were caged near the fernery or bush house. The public was encouraged to bring injured or orphaned animals to the park for safe keeping, especially after the shooting season commenced each year. Townsville mayor Tyack donated two black swans to the park in 1909. (TNM: 13/05/1909 - 4) In 1913 goldfish were introduced to the pond inside the fernery to provide a kaleidoscope of colour. (TNM: 05/09/1913 - 2)

The Duck Pond remains but the animal enclosures were dismantled in the 1990s. Mary Hunt who spent time in the town raising three young children during the Great War remembered: “The park was lovely with its emus, cassowaries, spotted deer and beautiful white swans on the lake ... thousands of flying foxes lived in huge moreton bay figs in the park became such a pest that periodically organized shooting parties used to have a great time in the early morning thinning them out.” (CTADAG - World Connections: Hunt) In 1919 The Northern Miner journalist E G Barrymore waxed lyrical about the birds attracted to the park. This was a key indication that the trees on a paltry piece of ground had reached some level of maturity and that Johnson’s work was finally paying off for the community. (TNM: 27/01/1919 - 3)

T H E D E E P S I N K I N G S C H E M E

In 1913, mining magnate Thomas Mills breathed the last gasp of hope for mining at Charters Towers with his deep sinking scheme, which had been first promoted in 1899. Mills hoped to secure a heavy injection of government capital to sink a 4,000 feet shaft in the southern end of Lissner Park to find more gold. The city was torn between economic opportunity and retaining the city’s only public breathing space. Mills’ proposal failed financially and so the park was saved certain destruction. (TNM: 11/07/1913 - 2; 12/07/1913 - 2) Another scheme conceived in the 1950s also threatened the fabric of the park for more honourable reasons. This was when Alderman Ian Mann put forward the suggestion that Lissner Park be subdivided into a sports reserve and a recreation reserve. Alderman Bull agreed, saying Lissner Park at present “was an unimpressive sight but this was not due in any way to the curator as it was impossible for one man to continually tidy with the facilities made available.

13 On the left is the animal enclosure

adjacent to the duck pond in the 1920s.

On the right is the duck pond with a pair of black swans in 1914.

[Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 2007158.2851 and

2006157.2538]

14 The diagram used in the newspaper to

describe the proposed scheme. It shows the layout of the northern park

in 1913. [Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No

19130712]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 17

(TNM: 11/09/1954- 2) Mann believed the city would be better serviced if the area was made more presentable and some recreational facilities made available to the younger generation. The idea never gained momentum with the tennis courts continuing in use and the high school using the park for some sports practice.

W O R L D W A R O N E

In 1921, two 77 mm German field guns were placed on the ground between the Boer War Memorial Kiosk and the Commonwealth Fountain. They were part of a battery of sixty-three guns - in addition to many more machine guns and trench mortars - distributed by Queensland’s War Trophies Committee to almost every town and village in the state. There was no known opening or dedication ceremony held when the guns were installed, given at this time that most in the community were more concerned for the soldiers who had returned and with supporting the families of those who never came back. (TNM: 09/07/1920 - 4; 16/12/1920 – 3; 21/04/1921 - 2)

2 . 3 L I S S N E R P A R K M A T U R E S

Favourable descriptions and a general appreciation of Lissner Park peaked in the 1920s when its key elements were firmly in shape. This included the Band Rotunda “garlanded by flowering creepers”, the Commonwealth Fountain and the Duck Pond both surrounded by gardens. These features were all enclosed by wire fencing, which was erected at some distance, one presumes, to keep the plantings and/or bird life safe. As well, there was the Boer War Memorial Kiosk, which, was never meant to be enclosed, along with the Shrubbery or Fernery. A children’s playground was first in evidence on the Church Street side in 1916 when it contained swings and a roundabout. Boat swings were added in 1936. (TNM: 03/05/1916 - 2; 03/07/1936 - 2) And there was the Meter House garden. The Charters Towers Water Board built the Venturi Meter House in 1910 to measure water flow in the rising main. The meter garden, which surrounded it between Bridge Street and curator’s house, took on some significance in the follow-on decades. (TNM: 07/12/1910 - 2; 16/02/1916 - 3) Perhaps most noteworthy were the actual grounds of Lissner Park as a whole, even at night:

15 The field guns ca 1932. [Charters

Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No 9605.4161 and 973904-1]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 18

“The surrounding lawns are picturesquely dotted with foliage and shade trees, flame and palm, fig and poinciana, and intersected by circling paths, which form attractive promenades for lad and lass; fleeting motors speed along the neighbouring highways like fireflies in the night, while the zephyrs blow through the glistening leaves of weeping-fig and drooping palms, caressing the small blinking feathered denizens of local woodland.” (TNM: 05/02/1925 - 3)

G A T H E R I N G S

City celebrations to mark the anniversary of the landings at Anzac Cove commenced in 1916. A procession to Lissner Park took place in 1919 with little or no ceremony. A formal gathering was held in the park in 1920 when a drumhead service was conducted. In fact the city’s Anzac Day celebrations took some years to cement into a regular pattern when Lissner Park was only sometimes used for ceremonial parades such as in 1939 and 1950. On the other hand, the broader community used Lissner Park with growing regularity to hold Fetes, Sunday School picnics and town celebrations. In the 1930s, the Committee of Combined Unions organised May Day activities, which were still popular up until the 1960s. (TNM: 05/05/1933 - 3) A range of organisations that included the RSL with its Diggers Fete, the Church of England, the CWA and the Ambulance Brigade held annual fetes. In the 1940s, the Communist Party was refused use of the park to conduct a fete. (TNM: 14/02/1947 - 1) Every year Curator Adams was required to make ready light lines and lamp holders for the fete season. (TNM: 09/11/1950 - 2) The demise of fetes and other events such as Dog Shows was brought about when flying foxes returned to roost in the park’s trees. This rendered the park unsuitable for mass public events. (TNM: 05/02/1925 - 3) One of the last organisations to conduct a fete in Lissner Park

16 A gathering of people in Lissner Park

ca 1910 Below are three girls attending the

Mosman Paddock Methodist Sunday School Picnic .

[Charters Towers and Dalrymple

Archive, Neg No 2006157.2863 and 9604.3940]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 19

was Richmond Hill State School whose last event took place in the late 1990s. However, the first Get to Know Your Community Day was held in Lissner Park on Father's Day 1998. This was organised by the Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre. Groups that participated included the QCWA, Life Education, Youth Achievement Australia, Gold City Lions, Blue Nurses and the Fire Brigade. Three years later in 2001, the Neighbourhood Centre’s event was co-opted by the organisers of the Centenary of Federation celebrations as a ‘fitting finale’ to their Federation Celebrations in the city. By this time the City Council had re-found the Commonwealth Fountain. It was restored to good working order and opened by the Mayor, Brian Beveridge. The continuing invasion of flying foxes into the park finally forced the Neighbourhood Centre’s Community Days to move to Centenary Park in 2003 with stall numbers there totaling sixty-five. (Brumby: Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre History)

D E P R E S S I O N Y E A R S

Whilst the form of Lissner Park was preserved, its aesthetics diminished in value as Charters Towers fell on harder times during the Depression. The place was poorly maintained. Upkeep on the grounds and facilities could not be sustained: “Visitors to Charters Towers wonder why the advantages of a central setting, space and appointments, which so many cities lack, have not been exploited to make Lissner Park one of the most attractive spots in North Queensland. It could be so and it should be, and it surely is a reflection on our civic administration that the park is little more than a place of leafy shade with seating accommodation.” (TNM: 17/11/1932 - 2)

W O R L D W A R T W O

The opening up of the Pacific as a theatre of war in December 1941 transformed Charters Towers into an operational military area. Thousands of troops were deployed or moved through the city for the duration of the war. Of note was the development of the Charters Towers aerodrome to the north of Lissner Park for bombing operations over Papua New Guinea. Lissner Park was put to military use during this time as remembered by three former residents. According to John Jewell, an American artillery unit was based in Lissner Park. They placed an ack-ack gun nearby on the grounds of Thornburgh College. They built a weapons pit behind John Jewell’s house, which was next to Thonburgh College. According to John the men walked over to Lissner Park to get their meals. (World Connections: WC2011.1871) According to Joe Gibson who was educated during the war at Retreat, William Clancy’s former residence opposite Lissner Park: “the Americans were there for a time and then they pulled out completely, and Australian troops came in then and they took over a lot of the park. We didn't have as much contact with them as we did with the Americans except that they took the Cadets and those in the Cadets we had a bit of contact with them, in fact one of their men, a Sergeant trained one of our Cadets, so we would get to see them, we went over there for our marching and drill and that sort of thing, apart from that we didn't have much to do with them, we had a lot more to do with the Americans when they were there

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 20

because they made a point of coming over to us. (Joe Gibson Interviewed on 5 May 1996) Alf Madsen camped in the park as a member of the Volunteer Defence Corps: “And next, in a couple of days we were out with picks digging a slit trench right across the park so that if there was an air raid we had to run and jump in that. When they wanted us to have PT, all second rate blokes - we had to walk from the park up to the top gate. There was no fence then they took the fence down and we walked right from the old time fence had the thing they had just to tighten the wire up and we walked up go through the top gate walked to the corner, the park in Anne Street, jog down past Mill street on to Sellheim street. Before long we were allotted to different places they were building at this time, the detention barracks; so many of us had to go. We had to go there to be on guard. “ (Alf Madsen interviewed on 24 April 1996)

A F T E R T H E W A R

In 1946, Albert Edward Adams, the parks curator who had commenced work with the City Council in 1935, produced a long list of improvements for the council to consider. This included providing water faucets, replacing toilets and dealing with the cellar under the kitchenette in the Kiosk which had filled with water. (TNM: 10/05/1946 - 4) In 1949, the City Council developed a beautification scheme for the city. Through this, Adams hoped to purchase forty-four trees to fill gaps in the main part of the park and twelve on the Plummer Street side. The selection of trees was to be left in the hands of the mayor. A year later, plans were in place to plant an avenue of pine trees in the park in addition to planting oleanders and jacarandas. Two principles were to be applied to the planting scheme: uniformity and colour. (TNM: 09/11/1950 - 2) Typical of Adams’ reports to council in the 1940s and 1950s were references to the fountain enclosure, the meter house garden and rotunda. The paths, he noted, were raked and cleaned of leaves; the children’s playground with its swings and boats had a nice carpet of grass and Mrs Oakley of Torrens Creek had promised a brolga for the park. An extra light stand was erected between Anne Street and the Rotunda for the Ambulance Fete. Lou Gray, in charge of the Excelsior Band had also played in the park. (TNM: 12/11/1949 - 1)

2 . 4 T O T H E P R E S E N T

C L Y D E B E R R Y M A N

Clyde Berryman replaced Adams in 1965 to become curator/parks supervisor until his retirement in 1998. Clyde’s expertise in horticulture was widely recognised. He was responsible for the care of not only Lissner Park but also the Dalrymple Road Parkland, Centenary Park, the City Hall gardens and Rotary Lookout. He was responsible for the planting of many of the bottle brush, umbrella trees and peltophorums in Lissner Park. This was a new direction with plant types: the emphasis being on dry tropics rather than rainforest types as selected by George Johnson. An irrigation system was introduced to Lissner Park that evolved from moving above ground aluminium pipes on a regular

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 21

basis to the current use of a below ground automatic sprinkler system. Berryman Memorial Park was named in his honour in upper Stubley Street in 2002. Alan Risdale followed Clyde in the position of Parks Supervisor, followed by Michael Nemic in 2002 and since 2006, Troy Risdale.

T H E H A N N M O N U M E N T

The Hann Monument was erected in 1959 to celebrate the centenary year of the proclamation of Queensland to mark one hundred years of European settlement along the Burdekin River. It was placed near the Bridge Street entrance and unveiled by Harry Clarke, the Dalrymple Shire Council chairman who was a descendant of the Hann family. The Hanns had arrived in the district as part of the second wave of pastoralists in 1862. This was fully one year after the district had been officially opened up by others families.

T H E C E N T E N A R Y F O U N T A I N

The Rotary Fountain was built in Lissner Park at a cost of $8,500 to commemorate the centenary of Charters Towers. It was opened a year later on the evening of Monday 21 August 1973 by the fountain’s designer John McIntyre, an engineer from Townsville. The fountain was accepted by the city on behalf of the mayor THA Titley who claimed “it filled a long-felt need in Lissner Park and added very considerably to the continued advancement of the park’s scenic attractions as well as its amenities.” (TNM: 22/08/1973) “Mr McIntyre pushed the electric button which not only started the fountain but also illuminated the contrasting coloured lighting effects for night time operation. (TNM: 22/08/1973) The president of Rotary Ken Sellars acknowledged the work was really done during the presidency of Arch Thompson and thanked all Rotary members and the public for supporting their fund raising endeavours. “Filling a long-felt need” took place without due consideration to the Commonwealth fountain being close-by in the centre of the park. Never the less, the new fountain did provide some infill to the park on the Anne Street side, which had been previously set aside as an open space. Its use had been far reaching. Once in 1906 Wirth’s circus raised two tents there. Kennedy Regiment cadets were drilled there before the Great War while it provided a perfect place for cricket with two pitches, which were still evident in the 1960s.

F U R T H E R C H A N G E S

Lissner Park was reduced in size in 1971 when the Kennedy Regiment Memorial Swimming Pool was constructed at the northern end of the park along Plummer Street. The north-south entrance through the park from the middle of Plummer Street was lost as was the build up of shade trees and park area along the east west axis of Mosman Creek under which the fernery had developed. This was replaced with a new structure on the same site in 1988. More public space was lost after the curator’s residence and surrounds were given over to use by Council’s Maintenance Depot where a staff of fourteen is currently based. In 1975-1976, the Commonwealth Government’s RED Scheme

17Above is the Hann Monument with the

established private garden of the gardener in 1959.

Below is the Rotary Fountain in 1973.

[Charters Towers and Dalrymple Archive, Neg No Davies2009178.3696

and 2007160.3014]

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 22

funded the construction of concrete walkways throughout the park. They followed the original line of most of the gravelled paths and some tracks. That is, they commenced, from both Anne Street corners to the Commonwealth Fountain then continued as one north passed and around the Band Rotunda to the footbridge crossing of Mosman Creek. A path from the main entrance on Bridge Street, to and around the rotunda completed the work. The centre pathway from the middle of Anne Street was not concreted given its alignment was compromised by the installation of the Centenary Fountain and probably due to a lack of use.

P A R K R A N G E R

Noel Stretton was appointed ranger of Lissner Park. He was required to enforce council by-laws, conduct guided tours and encourage use of the park. Noel hoped to introduce flower displays and add more colour to the park. His duties were to extend to the care of Centenary Park when it was completed. (TNM: 03/04/1992)

T H E J U P I T E R M O S M A N M E M O R I A L

On 24 May 1997, the Jupiter Mosman Monument was unveiled in Lissner Park by the Mayor of Charters Towers, Brian Beveridge. The unveiling was part of activities held in the park to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the foundation of Charters Towers. Jupiter Mosman was horse boy to the group of prospectors who found the gold at Charters Towers in December 1871. The monument comprised a giant boomerang set in a 22 tonne of ore body from the Mt Leyshon gold mine. The community project was the brain-child of Sister Edith Edwards. She organised Cordy Dallachy and Patricia Reid to decorate the boomerang with traditional paintings and for descendants of Jupiter to attend. Mr Reid conducted a smoking ceremony and led a group of Aboriginal dancers. “It means a lot to the Aboriginal people of Charters Towers to have something like this to recognise Jupiter Mosman,” Mr Reid said. (TNM: 26/05/1997) A monument to Jupiter was first raised on private land opposite the hospital in 1954. Jupiter was named as a member of the discovery party when the centenary memorial was opened at the Gap, Towers Hill in 1972. Jupiter was seemingly also included in a set of figures in Centenary Park in 1988. So this was the fourth monument to Jupiter erected in the city. A Yarning Circle was built in 2012.

P R E S E N T D A Y

In the 2000s, flying foxes continued to roost in the larger trees of the park. Their presence had been felt earlier in 1927 and 1935 when members of the gun club provided assistance with their removal. 400 little red and black flying foxes were counted in 2007 living in the park’s trees. (TNM: 12/01/2007) Since then, the park has suffered the destruction of many trees as canopies of the older and larger fig trees collapsed under the weight of the animals. Five trees were afflicted in the early part of 2008 with most removed. (TNM: 18/03/2008) In early 2014 the City Council received approval to remove the flying foxes from

LISSNER PARK 2

HISTORY ■ 23

the park using helicopters etc. The dispersal was successful but the animals have returned with 10,000 currently in the park. (TNM: 13/06/2014) With the taking over of Lissner Park, private use of the park reduced significantly. Public gatherings in the park have been non-existent for the past ten years. However the park does continue to draw in travellers looking for a rest stop; mobile coffee vendors along with fruit and vegetable sellers who trade from the park’s parking areas; and Indigenous people who socialise informally within the Boer War Memorial Kiosk on a regular basis. Meanwhile the Charters Towers community has embraced Centenary Park as the key place for holding celebrations and gatherings, both private and public. Its use was brought to a head after a collection of sculptures was erected in a water landscape to celebrate the Bicentenary of Australia in 1988. Since then the park has been greened, playground equipment installed and a concrete walking path added. Markets are held there on a regular basis; the Neighbourhood Centre has held its annual community day there since 2003 and the City Council held its Australia Day celebrations there in 2014.

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 24

3 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

He Lissner Park which exists today is substantially that as created by Alfred Powell and the Charters Towers Council before 1905. By that time the park

had been laid out, the Deane Street channels and bridges constructed, avenues of figs and tamarinds planted and all major structures on the site built including the residence for the gardener, the Band rotunda, the Commonwealth Fountain, the Boer War Memorial Kiosk, the duck pond and the tennis courts and cricket pitch. Much of the evidence of this period survives.

F E N C E S

It was during the time of head gardener George Johnson that the park was further developed by the planting of shrubbery and more decorative planting which took Lissner Park from a park of open areas and avenues to a garden of specimen plantings and flowers. An important part of his work was the very practical need to fence the entire perimeter to prevent goats and other animals from entering the site and eating the plants. A system of stiles and ladders was provided at the pedestrian bridges and adjacent to cross streets to provide access for pedestrians. A large set of cast iron gates was constructed at the main entrance at the end of Mosman Street for access for horse drawn carriages and

T

18 A diagram which shows the layout of the park by the 1920s, a photograph

per irrigation in the 1960s and the current photograph on the right.

[Allom Heritage, CTADA, Google Earth]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 25

for large processions which would have made their way up Gill Street into Mosman Street and into the park. A secondary layer of fencing was created around the Duck Pond, the Band Rotunda, the Commonwealth Fountain and the residence to further manage animals in the park. Evidence of all these survive in part. Although the plantings and garden beds have been largely lost and remnants of the wire mesh fencing remain in the Meter House Garden. So too does the evidence of early paths.

P A T H S

While several were consciously established in the first period, others were created as “desire paths” which inked the various stiles and entry points. Early aerial photographs suggest that the park was used by many people as a way to walk through the city and a way to connect the shopping streets with the

19 Current photographs of front gates, remnant of fence and Metre House

fence and arbour. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 26

suburb of Richmond Hill to the north. The path layout has changed by the loss of the central axis path which cuts through the park from the centre of Anne Street to the Mosman Creek pedestrian bridge. Remnant avenues of trees and the contour levels on the survey plan show its location. A new path has been added probably in the 1970s adjacent to the line of Norfolk Island Pines. The pathway which joined the pedestrian Bridge in Deane Street to the fountain has been removed but again the remnant avenue of trees shows the location of the path. The paths around the Band Rotunda have been modified over the years to a minor extent.

20Current photographs of the north-south axis which has been lost but important

avenues of trees and views survive. The Deane Street avenue and the

diagonal path which has been concreted. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 27

T H E F E R N E R Y

During the period in which George Johnson was curator a fernery or covered area in which tropical plants could be gathered and propagated was built. It is understood that his love of collecting plants, which was common among gardeners of botanic gardens throughout Australia at the time, necessitating the trebling in size of the fernery within the first three years of his arrival at the park. While the superstructure of the fernery has been replaced several times most recently after damage from a cyclone, the network of early rock walls, paths, ponds and clam shell fountains survive.

D E C O R A T I V E B E D S

Johnson’s love of decorative plants from far north Queensland was demonstrated in the plantings around the Band Rotunda, the Commonwealth Fountain, the duck pond and in his own garden around the cottage and the adjoining Meter House Garden. These gardens were all lush tropical gardens and made use of plants such as the Acalypha which Johnson had developed as

21 Current photographs of the fernery with the rock walls and clam shell

fountains. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 28

a domestic plant and had developed with many different coloured leaves. Much of the decorative planting was lost after Johnson left Charters Towers. Only one small fragment of that decorative planting now survives in the Meter House Garden.

C H I L D R E N ’ S P L A Y G R O U N D

Nothing survives of the children’s playground established in 1916 in the location of the current playground.

B U I L T S T R U C T U R E S

The built structures which survive in the park can be divided into two groups. Firstly the structures constructed in the first design stages of the park including the Commonwealth Fountain (1901) the Band Rotunda (1902) and the Boer War Memorial Kiosk (1910). The Commonwealth Fountain was removed from the site and was returned to its original location in recent years. The detail of the current fountain has however changed when compared with historic

22Current photographs of the Meter House Garden and the children’s

playground. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 29

photographs of the site. Further research would be needed to understand the changes to finial and spouts from the original. Secondly the structures built post 1970 which include the house rebuilt on the site of the 1895 gardener’s cottage, two buildings making up the parks depot to the rear of the cottage and fernery, a carport adjacent to the house built recently for Council’s Facilities staff and a toilet block in the centre of the park adjacent to the kiosk and fountain.

23 Current photographs of the Boer War

Memorial Kiosk. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 30

24 Current photographs of the Band Rotunda and the Commonwealth

Fountain. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 31

25 Current photographs of the more

recent buildings including the toilet block, the carport, the former

residence, the workshop and store. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 32

T H E D U C K P O N D

The duck pond existed from the earliest days of the park. There is a suggestion that it was used as a part of taming the creek which ran through the park. While the park has been rebuilt in recent decades with the installation of new pond liners and while it is not considered to be in the best condition it does retain its original form and general planting arrangement and it still is used to contain wildlife albeit the black swans that once lived there have been replaced by a range of roosters.

T R E E S

The trees which in the park range in age and species and the history of the park may be determined from that evidence. Early avenues of figs and tamarinds still survive along Deane Street and along the edges of Mosman Creek. No doubt they have grown so well because of their location on the edge of water sources. Other early plantings from that first period include palm trees planted around the fountain and rotunda.

26Current photographs of the duck pond.

[Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 33

Later a single line of Norfolk Island Pines which curve from the Anne and Deane Street corners toward the Commonwealth Fountain. The subsequent generations of plantings can be seen predominantly along the Anne Street and Church Street frontages with a range of trees including paperbarks, bottle brush, peltophorum and mahogany planted during the curatorship by Berryman. The addition of irrigation systems at this time would clearly have enabled tress along these edges of the park to finally establish. Up to and including the Berryman period trees had largely followed the early layout set out by Powell. In recent decades trees have begun to be planted in the historically open spaces of the park.

27

Current photographs of the trees including the flying fox near the kiosk,

an early avenue, mature plantings adjacent to the main entrance, flying

fox damaged trees and Berryman replantings. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 3

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

■ 34

Damage to the trees by the flying foxes has caused the biggest changes to the historic fabric of the park. Substantial damage has occurred to figs and tamarinds along the Deane Street avenue planting. This damage extends into the early trees adjacent to the kiosk and the fountain and adjacent to the main entry to the park. Substantial trees have been removed throughout these areas because of safety concerns for users of the park as these trees have died.

R E C E N T M E M O R I A L S A N D C H A N G E S

Several memorials have been added to the park in recent decades including the Hann Monument, the Jupiter Mosman Memorial and the Yarning Circle.

28 Current photographs of the Hann

Monument, the Jupiter Mosman Memorial and the Yarning Circle.

[Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 4

WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT

■ 35

4 WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT

ublic parks or recreation reserves are not an uncommon feature of Queensland towns. The idea of providing green space in urban areas had

its origins in industrial England in the early 19th century where it was proposed that the provision of parks would have a positive effect upon the health and behaviour of the working classes. The concept was brought to the colonies and in laying out towns in early Queensland areas were often reserved for recreation or public use. Many were initially left undeveloped as the municipalities assigned scarce resources to other more immediate and pressing needs but most Queensland towns can boast a park set aside within the first government survey. At Charters Towers, Lissner Park fulfills the role of the city’s public park. It has all (or most) of the characteristics of the 19th century public park found in Queensland’s towns or cities and indeed is one of similar listings in the Queensland Heritage Register. Unlike others however, Lissner Park was not part of the earliest survey of the city of which it is now part. The history of its creation and development is unusual and adds to the cultural significance of this place. Its history and significance is intimately associated with the history of Charters Towers. The primary and recurrent theme of Charters Towers is that of mining and more importantly of gold mining, of the extraordinary quantity and value of gold mined in this place, of the demands placed upon any civic use or activity within town by the mining activity. It is also the story of the people of Charters Towers who had a vision for the city that sometimes was at odds with the industrial demands of the gold miners. The history of Charters Towers is well documented. Like most gold mining settlements and in contrast to the more measured and ordered pastoral and agricultural settlements of Queensland the land was occupied quickly, even suddenly and a rough urban structure of settlement established before government order in the form of a town survey could be imposed. The first straggle of buildings along what is now Mosman Street was the nucleus of the famous ‘one square mile’ of town reserve set out from the intersection of Mosman and Gill Streets (the road to nearby Millchester where the earliest stamping batteries were located). Millchester, some 3.7 kilometers away, was a government surveyed township established in 1872 in a form easily recognized as such. From its earliest settlement it competed for primacy with the more convenient and ‘free and easy’ settlement at Charters Towers. By 1877 the settlement at Millchester was in decline in contrast the informal settlement had all the confidence and trappings of a substantial gold fields town with a hospital and school as well as

P

LISSNER PARK 4

WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT

■ 36

slaughter yards and Chinese gardens. Its population of 1500 in that year petitioned the government to declare the Charters Towers settlement a municipality in its own right. The ‘one square mile’ of the proclamation established Charters Towers as the smallest municipality in Australia and one which was defined largely within existing mining claims. The limited area included a reserve for showgrounds but apart from a cemetery and a water reserve no area was set aside for recreation or certainly nothing for a public park. It was a municipality limited in extent but not however in vision. Michael Brumby in his history of Lissner Park in the previous section of this document points out that within 12 months of the declaration of the ‘one square mile’ the new municipal council applied for additional reserves beyond the new town boundary, one for public recreation of 160 acres and another for a botanical gardens of 23 acres. Neither as it happened was developed but the implication is clear that the citizens of Charters Towers had a clear vision of a town of substance and of the traditional values despite what must have been a largely unpleasant and intrusive industrial environment. Even within the square mile mills such as Defiance and Bonnie Dundee operated and made claims upon land and water. It was from these conflicting demands that Lissner Park was created, not as a reserve set aside from the inception of the town but as a function of the particular circumstances, the industrial and political forces of 19th century Charters Towers and importantly of the expectations of its citizens that make Lissner Park of special interest historically and of special significance to the city. It is comprised in part on early water reserve, part of an early railway reserve and was brought into existence by Council action in 1883 to resolve a claim by the owners of the Bonnie Dundee Mill to increase its water entitlement. Interestingly the land was gazetted as a “temporary” reserve for public recreation purposes but action was immediate and within a year or two the land had been cleared and 400 trees planted. In 1888 the area was declared a park and named after one of the Charters Towers prominent citizens. Further development of the reserve took place over the following decade and by the early 20th century when the wealth and population of Charters Towers was at its peak, the Commonwealth Fountain, the Band Rotunda and the Boer War Memorial Kiosk had been built in the park, paths laid out and avenues of trees planted. All of this work including the broad layout of the pathways and avenues of shade trees was almost certainly the work of the first curator Alfred Powell.

LISSNER PARK 4

WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT

■ 37

A second curator, George Johnson was appointed in 1904 and it was these two early appointments that saw the essential form and nature of Lissner Park established. There is no documentary evidence of a formal design for the park and yet the layout of a dominant axis, of curving paths, avenues of trees and open spaces is clearly of its time. Indeed despite the unusual circumstances in which the reserve was declared at Charters Towers the park itself is generally contemporary with others in Queensland and is comparable in terms of its design. While reserves for recreation were common in early town surveys the laying out of paths and planting of trees was often delayed in the late 19th century. Designs, based on the private gardens of the late 18th century were influenced by the work of Joseph Paxton at Birkenhead in England, by Nash at St James park in London and by Frederick Olmstead at New Yorks Central Park. In Australia the concept and was widespread designs for public gardens was available in the work of JC Loudon’s “Encyclopaedia’ of Gardening 1822”amongst others. Walter Hill was appointed curator of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens in 1855 to develop a garden “along the lines of established institutions throughout the world”. Regional gardens more often were not laid out or developed until much later, some even in the early 20th century. Nearly all take the same form and are identifiable as a type. Lissner Park is clearly part of that genre. The reserve for the Botanic Gardens in Charters Towers was cancelled later and there was never any intention to make Lissner Park a Botanic Garden as found in other places in Queensland. Curator George Johnson however played an important role in propagating plant material gathered for his visits to North Queensland. Plants were used within the park and were made available to the wider Charters Towers community. His introduction of acalyphas to the park (and to Australian gardens generally) is noteworthy and some evidence of their wide planting survives in the area known as the Meter House Garden. While Lissner Park is then comparable to similar parks or gardens in other Queensland towns or cities the park has particular significance as part of the rich history of Charters Towers. In summary Lissner Park is significant as an example of a considered and carefully designed Victorian era park which though changed and degraded in parts contains evidence of its early planning and construction. The park is an important part of the history of Charters Towers represented in its foundation and use from 1883 until its heyday in the 1920s. It represents the optimism and vision of the people of Charters Towers to create the park, to see the land reserved, to maintain the new plantings in the face of drought and to keep goats from destroying those plantings to get water to the

LISSNER PARK 4

WHY IS LISSNER PARK IMPORTANT

■ 38

park and to manage the park through the declining fortunes of the town in the first half of the 20th century. It is a significant well loved part of Charters Towers and remains a scarce and valuable resource within an otherwise urbanised area.

LISSNER PARK 5

A VISION FOR LISSNER PARK

■ 39

5 A VISION FOR LISSNER PARK

issner Park remains a visible, accessible and important green space close to the centre of Charters Towers. It is a much loved part of the city.

Inevitable deterioration of its original layout and planting since its heyday in the 1920s and the more recent devastation of early plantings by the flying fox colonies make appreciation of its history and significance difficult. It remains however the people’s park and the primary objective must be to return Lissner Park not simply as a well managed and attractive asset but as a place which the people, local and visitors alike feel ownership. A vision for Lissner Park might include:

The acknowledgement of its place as a green space within the city as one of retreat, calm and peaceful use;

The recognition of the cultural significance of the place both as an early

and typical urban park of the late 19th century and a place with particular associations with the history of Charters Towers;

A commitment to no further reduction in the area of the park should be

envisaged and the protection of the early form of the park, its pathways, avenues, specimen plantings and open areas;

The management of activities within the park generally to be passive,

walking, promenading or picnicking. Other activities should be such as to not require fencing or otherwise be visually disruptive. More intensive or intrusive activities might be welcome as short term uses.

More specifically the vision should include:

The re-establishment of the early form of the park based on

documentary and physical evidence or early pathways and trees; The replanting of trees lost through natural attrition, drought and

damage from flying fox colonies over many years;

The care and preservation of evidence of the parks earliest history in elements such as the duck pond and remnants of the fernery;

The particular care of early park furniture and monuments including

the Band Rotunda, the reconstructed Commonwealth Fountain and the Boer War Memorial Kiosk but also the more ordinary elements such as the early gates and remnant fences;

L

LISSNER PARK 5

A VISION FOR LISSNER PARK

■ 40

The removal of later furniture or structures that have no cultural significance and which impact adversely on that significance. Chief amongst these is the late 20th century toilet block.

The development of plans for the parks depot so that early elements

such as the remains of the fernery become part of the experience of park visitors;

The management of the park within clear guidelines to conserve its

essential significance while encouraging its day to day use for residents and visitors. Coffee vans, markets fetes and similar events should be welcomed where these can be accommodated within the more general long term vision for the park.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 41

6 HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

he purpose of the conservation policies set out in this section is to provide a guide to the development and care of Lissner Park in ways that retain its

significance. The policies aim to:

retain the integrity of the park; provide an approach to the conservation of the landscape and

architectural fabric; permit change which will make the place more effective in its principal

role as a 19th century public park; identify elements which adversely affect the place and which should be

modified or removed; draw attention to the need for co-ordination of planning and

management; outline procedures by which these objectives may be achieved.

The policies are set out in italics and are accompanied by information on which they are based and followed by an explanation of likely implications. Policies should be read in conjunction with the associated text.

U S I N G T H I S C H A P T E R

The policies are structured beginning at the broadest level of approach, a conservation approach and management. The site has been divided into ten zones based on their significant features and for each a brief description, historic photographs, current photographs and policies are included. For additional information about individual trees the inventory in the Appendix should be consulted.

6 . 1 A P P R O A C H

The significance of Lissner Park as a 19th century public park is still apparent in the layout, planting and structures which survive in the park. While there have been several new structures constructed and some new plantings mostly in the past 40 years under the curatorship of Clive Berryman, the integrity of the park survives. An approach in which all significant elements are retained, in which the non significant elements are moved or modified is proposed. Many significant mature trees have survived and they should be protected and managed to ensure they continue to survive. There is an opportunity to increase the use of the site within the constraints of its cultural significance.

A C T I O N I N F O R M E D B Y S I G N I F I C A N C E

The significance of Lissner Park is set out in full in earlier sections of this document. It is essentially as a 19th century public park.

T

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 42

Policy 1 : The more significant a concept, fabric, relationship, space or vista, the more should care be exercised in preparing proposals that may affect the place – the objective being to ensure that the work will not reduce, and may reinforce, the identified significance.

This understanding of the levels of significance helps introduce the flexibility necessary for the management of change.

B U R R A C H A R T E R

It is essential that work at Lissner Park be of a standard that reflects and is influenced by the cultural significance of the place and of its various parts.

Policy 2: All work at Lissner Park, whether planning or capital works should be carried out in accordance with accepted standards and procedures for the conservation and management of cultural material.

Lissner Park is a place of substantial cultural significance and any work at the place should be of a standard that reflects that significance. The various charters, guidelines and standards of organisations such as the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) should be followed to enable a consistent and professional approach and to serve as a useful bench mark or reference point for work to be carried out.

U S E

The park was used fairly intensively by the community from its first establishment in the 1880s until the last 10 years or so. Those uses were fairly passive such as fetes, playing cricket, and gathering as apart of processions through the city. They did not require great physical infrastructure.

Policy 3: The park should continue to be used as a place of recreation.

While use of the park has fallen away in recent years because of the presence of flying foxes and because of changing community needs with fetes relocating to their school grounds and other events relocating to Centenary Park. The use of the park should be encouraged.

T H E F O O T P R I N T O F T H E P A R K

The park is in its original form with the exception of a public swimming pool constructed in 1972 in the north east corner of the site.

Policy 4: No further reduction in the size of the park should take place. While the pool may be considered a part of the recreational facilities of the park, the very nature of the complex with buildings, tiered seating and fencing does not make it feel a part of the park.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 43

I N T E G R I T Y

The park survives as a place conceived and designed in the late 19th century at a time when similar public parks were a new idea in the great cities of the world. Lissner Park has integrity as a public park because of the many mature trees set in a grassed landscape, the well maintained historic structures and the overriding sense of it being a peaceful and calm place.

Policy 5: The integrity of the place should be protected. It would be very easy to suggest that a better use of this large space would be to fill it with skateboard parks and indoor sports centres and the like which while being modern forms of public recreational use would greatly transform the place and impact on its integrity.

T H E 1 9 2 0 L A Y O U T A N D F O R M

The high period in the history of the park was reached during the curatorship of Johnson when the layout and plantings of Powell had been established and were maturing and when the decorative beds and more formal gardens of Johnson were established.

Policy 6: The form and layout of the park in 1920 should guide the layout and planning of the site.

While there is some potential for change in small sections of the park, the 1920 layout should guide all decision making.

S T R U C T U R E S

The significant structures in the park were also constructed by the high period of the 1920s.

Policy 7: The significant structures should be retained and gently repaired. Conservation practitioners should be used to guide this work.

An approach in which significant structures continue to be maintained in the good condition currently undertaken by the Council is ideal. Some significant elements such as the original stiles and original sections of fencing were removed from the site at some stage. These elements may be ‘restored’ to their original location to assist in interpreting the significance of the park.

L A N D S C A P E

The landscape in the park requires management in a similar manner to the significant structures. The mature trees should be maintained and cared for under the guidance of specialist arborists with experience in culturally significant parks and with the particular issues of flying fox damage.

29 The conjectural plan of the layout of the park in 1920. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 44

Policy 8: Engage a specialist arborist to prepare a maintenance plan to ensure the trees remain in the best possible condition.

Where significant trees have been lost through damage by flying foxes, storms or other reasons they should be replanted using the species and location of the existing. That is particularly important where the trees make up one of the significant avenues.

Policy 9: Replant missing significant trees with the same species in the same location.

While Johnson had an enormous impact on the life of the park, none of his designs and layouts survive around the former residence, the Band Rotunda, the Commonwealth Fountain garden or the fernery. A small fragment of plant types survives in the Meter House Garden.

Policy 10: Carry out further documentary research and consider reconstructing some or all of these elements or interpreting them to visitors.

While it may be beyond the capacity of the Council to reconstruct and maintain all of Johnson’s work, there is an important story to be told not only about the maturing of the park but in his ground breaking work to collect and propagate plants for domestic use. These stories may also be told through interpretive means.

I N T R U S I V E E L E M E N T S

While the park is largely in its early form there are some elements both built and landscaping which are intrusive and should be removed or screened.

Policy 11: Intrusive elements should be removed from the park. The most obvious intrusive element is the toilet block and to a lesser extent the former residence and the adjoining carport. The toilets should be moved, the residence visually screened with soft landscaping and the carport relocated in the long term master plan for the site. Some of the more recent trees are intrusive particularly where they are planted in the middle of the historically open fields of Zone 9. Other elements such as the Jupiter Mosman Memorial and the Yarning Circle are intrusive to some extent. While they may remain, future memorials and structures should be located in areas of the park where change is more appropriate. In hindsight it would have been better to locate the Yarning Circle in Zone 7 where it was less visually intrusive and where it may have sat better below the tree canopy and been more inviting. Similarly the desire to put memorials around the edge of the park should be resisted.

Z O N E S F O R N E W D E V E L O P M E N T

The park has the capacity to allow for new development including buildings and picnic shelters. 31

The zones in which new development which supports the use of the park is

allowable. [Allom Heritage]

30 The significant trees in the park.

[Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 45

Policy 12: New structures are allowed within Zones 6 and 7 providing they do not block significant views, they do not remove significant elements and they serve a purpose which is directly related to the park facilities.

New structures must be considered as a part of a long term master planning process for the park. They will need to be carefully designed to be of high quality architecture and clearly of our own time. Replicas and mock historic structures are not appropriate.

V I E W S

The park was clearly designed as a series of tree lined paths which went through the park and led to the key structures such as the Commonwealth Fountain.

Policy 13: Retain significant views inside the park and from the outside. Views within the park were very important and are very pleasing to the visitor. In particular the views along the north-south axis and along the Deane Street avenue and the view into the main entrance gates.

6 . 2 M A N A G E M E N T

Management of Lissner Park will require a single vision and a commitment of resources. The place is an important one in Queensland’s history and has the potential to have an expanded role as a substantial resource within the district given appropriate management. The nature of the park is that while it is owned by a single body there are many persons and sections of Council which will have responsibility for the various aspects of the care of the park. These include parks staff, building maintenance staff, tourism staff and community development staff. It is essential that a single officer takes a lead role in understanding in detail the history of the site and the conservation plan and that all proposals for change are co-ordinated and reviewed in a logical manner.

Policy 14: A single person should co-ordinate the various sections of Council involved with the park. That person should ensure that the possibilities and constraints identified in the conservation plan are observed.

The circumstances of Council will change from time to time however, it is important that a single person who has some empathy for the cultural significance of the place take an active part in the management of the place.

C O N T I N U I T Y O F A D V I C E

Lissner Park is a place which is likely to exist in perpetuity. While changes in philosophy, attitude and practice may vary over time it is important that these

32 Significant views in the park should be

retained. [Allom Heritage]

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 46

changes be considered within a long term view. Equally continuity of action is necessary when considering or carrying out capital works at the site.

Policy 15: Particular care should be taken to ensure continuity of staff, professional and trade advice, and supervision of actual work.

It is sometimes the case that new staff may seek change within their own understanding or expectations. It is important at Lissner Park that there is continuity of staff and decision making to avoid sudden shifts in philosophy and practice.

H E R I T A G E A P P R O V A L S

Lissner Park is included in the Queensland Heritage Register and is controlled under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. Any change to the place including the buildings, trees and landscape will require the necessary approvals.

Policy 16: Any change to the site will require the appropriate heritage approvals.

The Council should make a copy of this Conservation Management Plan available to the relevant officer of the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection so that they can also use the document as a tool to assist with heritage approvals.

P O L I C Y R E V I E W

It is inevitable that circumstances at Lissner Park will change in time and attitudes to the care and conservation of this place shift. A review of the present document in a structured manner is therefore appropriate in time.

Policy 17: This policy document should be reviewed in a public and unhurried way as the need arises, but not later than 2029.

It is important that policies contained in this document and agreed to are not changed or discarded in a random manner. For this reason it is proposed that a review take place within a fifteen year period using conservation practitioners working with Council officers.

6 . 3 V I S I T O R S

Visitors are an essential part of the future of the site. Visitor numbers over the last few years have decreased for several reasons including the presence of flying foxes, the use of Centenary Park as an alternative green space and because large events such as fetes tend to happen in other parts of the city. Every effort now needs to be made to ensure that visitors are better able to enjoy the facilities of the park. Opportunity exists to further develop Lissner Park as a resource enjoyed by the wider population of Charters Towers as a pleasant environment for picnicing,

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 47

for special events, for the pleasure of the gardens and as a place to learn more of the history of the city.

V I S I T O R T Y P E S

There are several categories of visitors to the park. The first are local Charters Towers Residents and the second are visitors to the city. There is potential to increase the use of the park by both groups. There is potential to encourage a greater use of the park by local residents. This may be in the form of specific events such as regular food markets or a summer night time cinema program or even the revitalisation of existing facilities such as the fernery or duck pond or in the creation of new facilities such as a café which they will use more regularly. The second category of visitor is people visiting the city. The reasons for visitor to the city using the park will vary. They may range from using it as a place to pause on a long driving holiday, some will come to look at the historic structures or to find family members remembered in the Boer War Memorial Kiosk and others will simply enjoy the cool green oasis. Again, there is a great potential to increase the use and enjoyment of the park for this category of visitor. In particular temporary and changing activities may be established for the main winter tourism period. Temporary sculpture exhibitions, markets, even music festivals such as the Chamber Orchestra Festival which is popular in Townsville and on North Stradbroke Island.

Policy 18: Visitors to the place should be encouraged within the constraints of the cultural significance of the place.

Policy 19: The park should be incorporated into the tourism and community development program for the city.

While the park has the capacity to be used to a much greater extent it will be necessary to take some care in managing that increased use. Inspiration for alternative and creative uses of the park should be explored based on the experiences of other cities in the world.

V I S I T O R F A C I L I T I E S

Increased use of the park may require additional more permanent facilities including provision for serving refreshments and adjoining toilets.

Policy 20: The provision of refreshments and toilets should be in accordance with the zones and policies and not compromise the historic integrity or significance of the place.

There is a long tradition that visitors to public parks including Lissner Park were able to purchase refreshments. Historically they were served from the Boer War Memorial Kiosk and while a temporary ice cream trolley may be set up there, the significance of that structure demands that alternative space be provided which can comply with current requirements and standards. It

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 48

would be sensible to provide additional toilets at the location of those new facilities.

A C C E S S A N D P A R K I N G

The present arrangement of vehicular access along the Deane Street side and the Church Street sides of the park with access for Council vehicles into the site proper is acceptable and should be maintained.

Policy 21: Parking should continue to be allowed along the Deane Street and Church Street parts of the site.

The present arrangement where the park is limited to pedestrians makes it a pleasant place to wander around and enjoy. Cars should not be allowed further into these spaces.

I N T E R P R E T A T I O N

Explaining the history of the site will lead to a better enjoyment of the place and to return visitation. There is enormous potential to explain the various themes and aspects of the history of the park including its connection to the history of the broader city.

Policy 22: Develop a long term interpretation strategy for the site. During the preparation of this conservation management plan an extraordinary amount of information about the park has been collated. There is an opportunity now to share that information with the community. While that story telling may occur in unobtrusive signs and panels in the park there may be other devices such as pamphlets, web sites and even displays in a new café building which are appropriate.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 49

6 . 4 T H E Z O N E S

The site has been divided into 10 zones based on the significant elements in the site. It also allows policies to be developed for structures and their setting.

The zones are as follows: Zone 1: Entrance and Deane Street Avenue Zone 2: Boer War Memorial Kiosk Zone 3: Commonwealth Fountain Zone 4: Band Rotunda Zone 5: Fernery Zone 6: Former residence and workshops Zone 7: North east corner and playground Zone 8: Duck Pond Zone 9: The fields Zone 10: Meter House Garden and Mosman Creek

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 50

Z O N E 1 : E N T R A N C E A N D D E A N E S T R E E T A V E N U E This zone contains the early avenue planting of tamarinds, figs and other species along Deane Street beside the stone pitched channel constructed in the 1880s. Vehicular access is under some of those trees with an asphalt road. The zone also includes two pedestrian bridges which cross the channel and the main vehicular and pedestrian bridge. Early fencing survives including the original pair of entrance gates and several sections of early fence. This avenue of trees is being damaged by flying foxes and several substantial figs have been removed in recent years. The avenue is one of the most atmospheric parts of the park and its character should be retained.

P O L I C I E S

The avenue of trees should be retained and every effort made to ensure that these elements thrive in spite of the damage by flying foxes.

The asphalt surface below this avenue should be reviewed by expert arborists

who are able to assess if these surfaces are impacting on the condition of the trees. No kerbing or extended hard surfaces should be constructed in this area which would damage the root zone of the trees and destroy the character of the place.

The trees which have been removed should be replaced to ensure that the ‘sense’

of the avenue is maintained.

No new buildings, structures or memorials should be constructed in this zone.

The entrance gates should be retained and maintained. They may be repainted using their original colour scheme. These colours should be determined by investigating early paint layers on the posts and using early black and white photographs to understand tonal changes in colours.

The remnants of fence should be retained and may be relocated adjacent to the

entrance gates and connect to the gate post using the surviving eye fixings. This will help interpret the early perimeter fencing and allow interpretation of the story of the goats eating the plantings.

The pedestrian bridges should be retained and repaired. Timber elements

should not be replaced with steel as has been the case in other parts of the city.

The galvanised pipe fences are not significant and may be removed or altered.

The low hedges are not significant and may be removed or altered. New hedges should not be planted in the area of the avenue.

The stone pitched channel should be maintained by stonemasons using

appropriate stones and mortars.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 51

Additional tables and chairs may be placed beneath avenue trees.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 52

Z O N E 2 : B O E R W A R M E M O R I A L K I O S K

This zone contains the individually most significant element of the site which is the 1910 Boer War Memorial Kiosk. The building is of great significance and requires specialist care and advice to retain its integrity. The zone also includes the WWI German Field Guns brought to the site in 1920 with a steel shelter constructed to protect those guns. The zone also contains the remnants of the first avenue of trees panted in 1895.

P O L I C I E S

The kiosk is the most individually significant structure on the site should be gently conserved and maintained. All early and original fabric should be retained. The sense of patination of the place should be retained including the early slab which is showing signs of movement from tree roots.

Any plan to carry out work to the kiosk should be guided by advice from

qualified conservation practitioners.

The field guns should be retained. The protective shelter is not significant and it may be removed.

The avenue of trees should be retained and every effort made to ensure that

these elements thrive in spite of the damage by flying foxes.

The trees which have been removed should be replaced to ensure that the ‘sense’ of the avenue is maintained.

No new buildings, structures or memorials should be constructed in this zone.

The kiosk sits in an open grassed setting which was historically quite different

to the fountain and the rotunda which were originally fenced and surrounded by decorative gardens. That quality of openness should be retained.

No signage, seating, bins or other objects should be placed in the vicinity of

this structure to ensure that all of the views of the structure are retained.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 53

Z O N E 3 : C O M M O N W E A L T H F O U N T A I N

This zone contains the Commonwealth Fountain. This fountain was constructed in 1901 and removed from the site at some stage. The original fountain was discovered and restored and returned to the site. However, the detail of the fountain does not match the historic photographs and it has obviously been modified since it was removed from Lissner Park. Further research should be undertaken about the changes to the fountain. The condition of the fountain does however appear to be deteriorating and expert advice should be sought to inhibit corrosion. Its location was however pivotal in the original layout of the park and it provided a focus for the north-south axis which went through the park from Anne Street to Plummer Street. The zone contains a circular layout in the paths which suggests the location of the earlier fenced garden area. Remnant palm trees and mature trees survive from that early planting and are significant. The zone contains a concrete block toilet block constructed in the 1970s. This structure is not significant and is visually intrusive and should be moved to a different zone in the site, possibly zone 6 or 7. The concrete paths are not significant although their location is significant.

P O L I C I E S

The Commonwealth Fountain in its current form and detail should be conserved and maintained. Further research should be undertaken before modifying the detail of the fountain based on historic photos.

The circular form of the pathway should be retained. The concrete surface is

not significant and may be modified.

The fenced fountain garden and shaped decorative garden beds should be reconstructed or interpreted for visitors.

The toilet block should be removed to Zone 6 or 7.

The early trees and palms should be retained or replanted as a part of a scheme

for the fountain garden. It is understood that there is some concern about the safety of users of the park from dropping palm fronds. This concern should be reviewed by qualified arborists and appropriate management plans put in place to minimise any potential risks. This may include reconstructing landscaping around the palms or even roping off areas below the palms during certain seasons of the year.

Views to this fountain from all parts of the park should be retained.

No new structures or memorials should be built in this area.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 54

Z O N E 4 : B A N D R O T U N D A

This zone contains the Band Rotunda constructed in 1902. This structure played an important role in the cultural life of the park. The rotunda could be seen from the main entrance and from the central north-south axis. The rotunda sat within a fenced and landscaped area with shaped concrete paths. This area outside the rotunda was used as the main gathering space for processions and other community gatherings. The shape of the path layout is fairly true to the early form. Early mature trees also survive in this zone. The low hedging around the rotunda is not significant.

P O L I C I E S

The Band Rotunda should be gently conserved and maintained. Early materials should be retained where possible.

Any plan to carry out work to the rotunda should be guided by advice from

qualified conservation practitioners.

The shape of the pathway should be retained. The concrete surface is not significant and may be modified.

The fenced garden and shaped decorative garden beds and paths should be

reconstructed or interpreted for visitors.

The early trees and palms should be retained.

Views to this structure from the entrance and the fountain should be retained.

No new structures should be built in this area.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 55

Z O N E 5 : F E R N E R Y

The fernery has been in this location since at least 1904. While the superstructure has changed several times, the layout of winding paths and small rock walls with ponds and clam shell fountains appears to be early and from the Johnson period. The fernery was used to propagate and display tropical plants which needed more water and protection than offered in other parts of the park. It was not as elaborate as some other ferneries of the period but it is an important part of the history of the park.

P O L I C I E S

The layout of winding paths, rock walls, ponds and clam shell fountains should be retained.

The superstructure may be removed and replaced with a different structure of a

contemporary design or one based on the documentary evidence.

The fernery should be filled with tropical plants and these should be based on the documentary research including historic photographs.

The fernery should be open to the public.

The significance of the fernery and its important role in the park should be

interpreted to the community.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 56

Z O N E 6 : F O R M E R R E S I D E N C E A N D W O R K S H O P S

This zone was established as the working part of the site from the earliest days and it has continued in that role to the present. The area was not open to the public and it also continues in that way. The area originally contained a residence for the gardener constructed in 1895 and replaced several times with the final house being built from concrete block in the 1970s. The house has been extended with a steel carport. Two support buildings are also in this zone. The first is a large steel shed of recent construction and the second is a smaller building which has clearly been extended several times during its life. The area is now used by the Parks staff and the Facilities staff. The residence is now used as offices for Facilities staff. The extensive private garden surrounding the residence consisting of trees, palms, decorative shrubs and fencing has been removed in recent years.

P O L I C I E S

The residence, carport and the two sheds are not significant and may be altered or removed from the site.

New structures are allowed in this zone which will support the care and use of

the park.

The active use of the area by the Council is important for safety in the park and should be encouraged. However other non park related Council activities should not be allowed.

The use of the area may include activities such as a small café or toilets to

support the increased use of the park.

The former residence building should be screened from the park to some degree with planting or other device. Consideration should be given to using some of the plant species used by Johnson and reconstructing the Johnson fence and arbour.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 57

Z O N E 7 : N O R T H E A S T C O R N E R A N D P L A Y G R O U N D

This zone has contained the children’s playground since at least 1916. It also contains the early pedestrian bridge which provided access along the north-south axis through the site to Plummer Street and the northern suburbs. The zone includes mature plantings of Tamarinds along Mosman Creek other mature trees from the Berryman era. It also includes parking areas used by the Council and a roadway along Church Street beneath an avenue of trees. Remnants of the original fence survive along the bridge over Church Street which are just outside of this zone and the site but are however linked to Lissner Park.

P O L I C I E S

A children’s playground should be retained in this part of the park.

The structures connected with the playground are not significant and may be removed or changed as community needs change.

Early mature trees should be retained.

New trees should be planted where they are missing to retain the sense of creek

side plantings.

New structures are allowed in this zone which will support the use of the park. These may include new toilets or café.

New picnic shelters may be constructed in this zone although preference

should be given to installing picnic tables and seats below shade trees.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 58

Z O N E 8 : D U C K P O N D

The duck pond has been in the same location since the earliest days of the park. Its shape and general arrangement has not changed although the area has been re-fenced and new pond liners were added. Historic photographs show substantial planting including enormous clumps of bamboo. The area is home to a disparate collection of birdlife including ducks, chickens, roosters and a turtle. There is reference to an animal enclosure to the eastern side of this area although no physical evidence of this survives.

P O L I C I E S

The duck pond should be retained. The duck pond should be open to the public and its existence actively promoted.

The layout with a central walkway and bridge should be retained.

The fenced enclosure and the caged walkway are not significant and may be

removed or modified to make the place more aesthetically pleasing for visitors.

The tropical landscaping should be retained and further developed.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 59

Z O N E 9 : T H E F I E L D S

The zone identified as the fields is the area to the south east of the park which is bounded by Anne and Church Streets. The zone was historically divided by a path which ran on a north-south axis from the centre of Anne Street to the Commonwealth Fountain and Plummer Street. The only evidence of this is expressed in the evidence of this section of the axis is expressed in the contour plan and in the mature avenue of trees adjacent to Anne Street. Remnants of the early avenue survive in this area. There was also a smaller path which ran diagonally from the corner of Anne and Church Street to the fountain. This has been recently remade in concrete. Substantial trees were limited to the edges of the paths and the perimeter of the site. Many of these trees were planted in the 1970s and after irrigation began to be used on the site. This part of the site contains quite different species of trees typical of those used by Berryman throughout the city. A new curved path and a line of pines was added to the western part of the zone after the 1960s. Immediately to the south of the duck pond were two ant bed tennis courts which were removed in the 1970s after the construction of new courts in Aplin Street. The open space of this part of the park was used for cricket, circus visits and even parading of the troops during World War II. A centenary fountain was constructed in the centre of the cricket area in 1972.

P O L I C I E S

The avenue of trees along the north south axis should be retained. The mature trees along the diagonal path and the perimeter should be retained

. Recent trees planted in the open “field’ spaces should be removed to strengthen

the character of this zone as an open field.

New trees may be planted along the perimeter to strengthen the visual edge of the park.

The diagonal concrete path is not significant.

No new buildings or structures including picnic shelters should be constructed

in this zone.

The Yarning Circle and the Jupiter Mosman Memorial are not significant and may be removed.

The Centenary Fountain is not significant but it is of a scale which is

appropriate for the park and may be retained.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 60

Temporary uses such as markets, outdoor cinema, outdoor exercise classes and

performances are appropriate in this area.

The original entry from Anne Street may be marked with contemporary markers together with some interpretation to explain the history of this part of the site.

LISSNER PARK 6

HOW TO LOOK AFTER LISSNER PARK

■ 61

Z O N E 1 0 : M E T E R H O U S E G A R D E N A N D M O S M A N C R E E K

This zone includes the remnant garden associated with the Meter House, the Meter House and the section of the park across Mosman Creek which was isolated by the construction of the pool in 1972. The area adjacent to Plummer Street contains mature tamarinds. Mosman Creek is stone pitched in a similar manner to the Deane Street channel and dates from the 19th century. The Meter House Garden was immediately adjacent to the private residence garden established by Johnson up until the 1920s and it appears to be the only remnant of his decorative planting using Acalypha that survives at Lissner Park. This remnant of garden also includes early fencing and an early arbour made from pipe. The Meter House is a small building constructed as a part of the reticulation of water to Charters Towers. It is a part of the broader story of water in the city and the connection between the Burdekin Pump Station and the reservoir on Towers Hill. The building contains an early water meter known as a “Venturi Water Meter”.

P O L I C I E S

The meter house garden is significant and should be retained along with the arbour and fencing.

The acalypha in the meter house garden should propagated to make further

beds for other areas of the park.

The meter house should be retained and gently conserved.

The meter house should be interpreted for visitors as a part of the broader story of water reticulation in the city.

The mature trees along Bridge Street and Mosman Creek should be retained

and replanted where missing.

The stone pitched channel should be maintained by stonemasons using appropriate stones and mortars.

No new structures should be built in the Meter House Garden.

New picnic shelters and other park related buildings may be constructed in the

Plummer Street park.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 62

7 APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

his chapter includes the inventories and records made of the site at the time of the study.

7 . 1 D E T A I L E D S U R V E Y

The first includes two versions of the detailed survey of the site undertaken by J Booy, Consulting surveyor of Townsville. The first is a survey with built structures and landscaping and the second also includes contours of the site. These drawings have been invaluable in helping to understand the history of the site. The contour drawing is particularly interesting in highlighting the early path which extended from the middle of the Anne Street frontage to the pedestrian bridge across Mosman Creek to the north.

T

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 63

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 64

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 65

7 . 2 T R E E I N V E N T O R Y

The second is the survey of trees undertaken by Mr Troy Risdale, the Parks Supervisor. This is recorded as a noted aerial photograph of the site, a schedule of the plant names and a photograph of each tree. An additional column has been added to the table by the authors of this study and refers to the Zone in which the tree is located, its likely period of planting and its significance.

LEGEND FOR ALLOM HERITAGE COMMENTS The zone is based on the above diagram. The period is defined as one of three generations. Early Powell/ Johnson 1889-1924 Middle Adams 1946-65 & Berryman 1965-1988 Recent Post 1988 The significance is divided into three levels to assist in the management of the place. Significant Moderately significant Not significant Additional notes are included to describe whether the tree is part of a larger avenue or group and any notes on condition etc.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 66

MAP No TREE Parks supervisor

comments Allom Heritage comments

866

Rubber Tree Ficus elastica

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

868

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

869

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

870

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 67

871

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

872

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

873

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

874

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 68

875

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

876

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

877

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of Deane St avenue

878

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of early north-south axis avenue of trees

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 69

879

Palms

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of the early Commonwealth Fountain garden

880

Palms

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of the early Commonwealth Fountain garden

881

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of early north-south axis avenue of trees

882

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Just outside fenced area of Commonwealth Fountain garden

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 70

883

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of early north-south axis avenue of trees

884

Gum Eucalyptus

Zone 4 Middle Not significant Likely to have been planted by Clive Berryman as an infill tree. The tree is not consistent with the round or oval shape of the early trees including many planted by Berryman.

886

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 2 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

890

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 2 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 71

891

Leichardt X 3 Nauclea orientalis

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

972

William Hann Monument

Zone 1 Recent Not significant Shrubs are not important and may be removed

973

Revolution Gold

Zone 1 Recent Not Significant Should be removed

974

Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii

Zone 1 Early Significant This is a substantial and very important tree planted to mark the entrance to the park. It was not part of an avenue or line of trees.

975 Palm

Zone 1 Early Significant Palm trees were used in 19th century public gardens to define them as botanic gardens

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 72

976

Palm

Zone 1 Early Significant Palm trees were used in 19th century public gardens to define them as botanic gardens

977

Umbrella Tree

Zone 1 Recent Not Significant

978

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 1 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes Part of avenue from Deane St bridge to Commonwealth Fountain

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 73

979

Eucalyptus

Zone 1 Middle Not Significant Likely to have been planted by Clive Berryman as an infill tree. The tree is not consistent with the round or oval shape of the early trees including many planted by Berryman.

980

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 1 Middle Moderately Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted by Adams to fill gaps

981

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 1 Middle Moderately Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted by Adams to fill gaps

982

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 1 Period unknown possibly a replanting Not Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted to fill gaps

983 Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 1 Period unknown possibly a replanting Not Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted to fill

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 74

gaps

984

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 1 Period unknown possibly a replanting Not Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted by Berryman to fill gaps

985

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane St avenue of trees

986

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 1 Middle Not Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted by Berryman to fill gaps

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 75

987

Bottle Tree

Zone 1 Period unknown possibly a replanting Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees

988

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees

989

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Period unknown possibly a replanting Not Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees and may have been planted to fill gaps

990 Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane St avenue of trees

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 76

991

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees

992

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees

993

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 1 Early Significant Part of Deane Street avenue of trees, one of a pair marking the corner on Church and Deane St

994 Tamarind Tamarindus indica Zone 1 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 77

Part of Deane Street avenue of trees, one of a pair marking the corner on Church and Deane St

995

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of Anne St avenue

996

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of Anne St avenue

997

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of Anne St avenue

998 Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of Anne St avenue

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 78

999

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of Anne St avenue

1000

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 9 Probably Early in a group with other early figs and tamarind. Significant Part of Anne St avenue

001

Jacaranda

Zone 9 Middle Moderately Significant Part of Anne St avenue

002 Fig Ficus benjamina Zone 9 Period unknown but not replanted as a part of an avenue or group

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 79

Not Significant This tree is not a part of any group and has been planted within the historically open field used for cricket. It may be removed.

003

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Period unknown but not replanted as a part of an avenue or group Not Significant This tree is not a part of any group and has been planted within the historically open field used for cricket. It may be removed.

004

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

005

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

006 Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 80

planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

007

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

008

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

009

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

010 Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 81

While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

011

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

012

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 9 Middle planted post 1965 Significant While this planting was not a part of the early layout of the park it was planted over 40 years ago as a line of trees and has become a dominant element in the park.

013

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 9 Period unknown but not replanted as a part of an avenue or group Not Significant This tree is not part of the early layout or an avenue and may be removed.

014 Fig Ficus hillii Zone 9 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 82

This is a substantial tree which is not part of an avenue but is important.

015

Bottle Brush

Zone 3 Recent Not significant This tree is a poor specimen and is significantly different to all of the avenue planting in the park and may be removed.

016

?

Zone 3 Recent Not significant This tree is a poor specimen and is significantly different to all of the avenue planting in the park and may be removed.

017

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of early north-south axis avenue of trees

018 Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 9 Middle Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 83

of trees

019

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue of trees

020

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early and a remnant of north-south axis Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue of trees

021

Pepper Tree

Zone 9 Middle Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue of trees

022 Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue of trees

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 84

023

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of the north-south axis avenue of trees

024

Variegated Fig

Zone 9 Recent Not significant In middle of open field and should be removed.

025

Variegated Fig

Zone 9 Recent Not significant In middle of open field and should be removed.

026 Variegated Fig Zone 9 Recent Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 85

In middle of open field and should be removed.

027

Cassia

Zone 9 Middle Not significant In middle of open field and may be removed. It does however follow the shape of the historic trees as a trunk set into the grass.

028

Bottle Brush

Zone 9 Middle Not significant Planted as an infill tree along Anne Street and may be replaced with tamarind or peltophorum.

029

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

030 Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 86

031

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

032

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

033

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

034 Peltophorum Pterocarpum Zone 9 Middle Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 87

Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

035

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

036

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 9 Middle Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

037

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 9 Middle Significant Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

038 Peltophorum Pterocarpum Zone 9 Middle Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 88

Part of single line of trees along Anne St.

039

Eucalyptus

Zone 9 Period unknown Middle Not Significant Probably one of Berryman’s eucalypts planted in the park. This is clearly not a part of the character of the other trees such as his peltophoums.

040

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of early avenue at corner of Anne and Church Sts.

041

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

042 Fig Ficus hillii Zone 9 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 89

Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

043

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

Cassia

044

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance

045

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance

046 Pleiogynum Timorense Zone 9 Middle

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 90

Moderate significance

047

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 3 Middle Not significant

048

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 3 Middle Not significant

049

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 3 Middle Not significant

050 Peltophorum Pterocarpum Zone 3

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 91

Middle Not significant

051

Pepper Tree

Zone 3 Middle Not significant

052

Mahogany Tree

Zone 3 Middle Not significant

053

Tamarindus indica

Zone 3 Early Significant Damaged by flying foxes

054 Fig Zone 9 Recent Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 92

Should be removed

055

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

056

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

057

Eucalyptus Ironbark Crebra

Zone 9 Middle Not significant Likely to have been panted by Berryman

058 Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 93

059

Eucalyptus Ironbark Crebra

Zone 9 Period unknown Not significant Likely to have been planted by Berryman

060

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

061

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant Part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

062 Eucalyptus Zone 9 Middle Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 94

Infill tree probably planted by Berryman. This tree is not consistent with the form of trees in the park including tamarind, fig, peltophorum and even mahogany.

063

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant part of avenue at diagonal path from Church and Anne Street

064

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant

065

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant

066 ? Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 95

Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

067

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

068

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

069

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

070 ? Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 96

Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

071

?

Planted early 2000's, To be identified

Zone 9 Recent Not significant Arranged to make an extra line of trees beside the Church Street avenue. The tree should be removed.

072

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

073

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 9 Early Significant Church St avenue

074 Peltophorum Pterocarpum Zone 9

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 97

Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

075

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

076

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

077

Paperbark Tree

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

078 Peltophorum Pterocarpum Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 98

Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

079

Paperbark Tree

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

080

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

081

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

082 Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense Zone 9

Middle

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 99

Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

083

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 9 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting along the Church Street avenue by Berryman.

084

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 8 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting adjacent to Duck Pond by Berryman.

085

Sheoak

Zone 8 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting inside Duck Pond by Berryman.

086 Sheoak Zone 8 Middle

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 100

Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting inside Duck Pond by Berryman.

087

Sheoak

Zone 8 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting inside Duck Pond by Berryman.

088

Norfolk Pine Araucaria Heterophylla

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

089

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

090 Sheoak Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 101

Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

091

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

092

Jacaranda

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

093

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

094 Mahogany Tree Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 102

Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

095

Mahogany Tree

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

097

Blackbean tree Castanospermum australe

Zone 7 Middle Moderate significance Post irrigation system planting by Berryman.

098

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of north-south axis

099 Fig Ficus benjamina Zone 3 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 103

Part of north-south axis

100

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of north-south axis

101

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of north-south axis

102

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 3 Early Significant Part of north-south axis

103 Foxtail Palm Wodyetia Bifurcata Zone 3 Recent Not significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 104

104

Poinciana

Delonix Regia

Zone 3 Middle Moderately significant Planted post 1965 by Berryman.

105

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 3 Middle Moderately significant Planted post 1965 by Berryman.

106

Bottle Brush

Zone 3 Middle Not significant Planted post 1965 by Berryman. The bottle brush is completely out of place in this zone of the park.

107 Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 3 Middle Moderately significant Planted post 1965 by Berryman.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 105

108

Foxtail Palm Wodyetia Bifurcata

Zone 3 Recent Not significant

109

Foxtail Palm Wodyetia Bifurcata

Zone 3 Recent Not significant

110

Bottle Brush

Zone 5 Middle Not significant Planted post 1965 by Berryman. The bottle brush is completely out of place in this zone of the park.

111 Palm

Zone 5 Middle Moderately significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 106

112

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Tree is dead, must be removed

Zone 7 Early Significant One of the early Mosman Creek plantings. It should be replaced with same species in future.

113

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 7 Early Significant One of the early Mosman Creek plantings.

114

Blackbean tree Castanospermum australe

Zone 7 Middle Moderately Significant One of the infill plantings along Mosman Creek.

115 Tamarind Tamarindus indica Zone 7 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 107

One of the early Mosman Creek plantings.

116

Foxtail Palm x 3 Wodyetia Bifurcata

Zone 7 Recent Not significant

117

Foxtail Palm x2 Wodyetia Bifurcata

Zone 7 Recent Not significant

118

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Marks driveway at northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

119 Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 108

120

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

121

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

122

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 109

123

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

124

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

125

Rubber Tree Ficus elastica

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

126

Sheoak

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 110

127

Sheoak

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

128

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

129

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Northern end of the Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

130

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 7 Early Significant A small specimen compared with others in the park.

131 Eucalyptus

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Quite different to the form of significant trees in the park but is

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 111

more acceptable in this location.

132

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 7 Early Significant Small specimen.

133

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 7 Early Significant Small specimen.

134

Paperbark Tree

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Quite different to the form of significant trees in the park but is more acceptable in this location.

135 Paperbark Tree Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 112

Quite different to the form of significant trees in the park but is more acceptable in this location.

136

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 8 Early Significant Near duck pond and may have been near animal enclosure.

137

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 8 Early Significant Near duck pond and may have been near animal enclosure.

138

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 8 Early Significant Near duck pond and may have been near animal enclosure.

139 Poinciana Delonix Regia Zone 8 Middle Moderately Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 113

Near duck pond and may have been near animal enclosure.

140

Paperbark Tree

Zone 8 Middle Not Significant Quite different to the form of significant trees in the park but is more acceptable in this location.

141

Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 9 Early Significant Near duck pond and may have been near animal enclosure.

142

Burdekin Plum Tree Pleiogynum Timorense

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

143 Jacaranda

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 114

Berryman.

144

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

145

Fig Ficus hillii

Zone 7 Early Significant Church St avenue

146

Peltophorum Pterocarpum

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

147

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 115

148

Poinciana Delonix Regia

Zone 7 Middle Moderately significant Church St avenue and planted by Berryman.

149

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 7 Early Significant Toward Anne and Church St corner.

150

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 7 Early Significant Toward Anne and Church St corner.

151

African Tulip Spathodea Campanulata

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

152 Palm Zone 10 Early

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 116

Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

152

Blackbean tree Castanospermum australe

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

153

Pepper Tree

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

154

Kauri Pine Agathis Atropurpurea

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

155 Fig Ficus benjamina

Zone 10 Early Significant Meter House garden filled with

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 117

exotic tree species.

156

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

157

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 10 Early Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

158

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 10 Early Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

159 ? To be identified at a later date

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 118

160

?

To be identified at a later date

Zone 10 Date unknown Significant Meter House garden filled with exotic tree species.

161

Cassia

Zone 9 Recent Not significant A part of planting along diagonal axis adjacent to pathway.

162

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 9 Early Significant

163 Tamarind Tamarindus indica Zone 10 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 119

Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

164

Leichardt Nauclea orientalis

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

165

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

166

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

167 Tamarind Tamarindus indica Zone 10 Early Significant

LISSNER PARK 7

APPENDIX A: PLANT INVENTORY AND SURVEY

■ 120

Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

168

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

169

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

170

Tamarind Tamarindus indica

Zone 10 Early Significant Part of Plummer Street park near Mosman Creek.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 121

8 APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

his appendix includes additional information provided by historian Michael Brumby to explain the earlier texts.

8 . 1 S O U R C E S

Books Brumby, Michael. People and Places. Charters Towers: Charters Towers Archives, 2010. Brumby, Michael. A History of the Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre. Charters Towers Neighbourhood Centre, Charters Towers. [yet to be published.] Gray, George. Reminiscences of India and North Queensland. London, 1913. Queensland Government Gazette. (QGG) Newspapers ET – Evening Telegraph NA - Northern Advocate NMR - Northern Mining Register RM - Ravenswood Miner TSM – The Sydney Mail TDB - Townsville Daily Bulletin TNM - The Northern Miner

8 . 2 I S I D O R L I S S N E R

There is scarcely an honour in the gift of the Towers citizens that was not at one time or another conferred upon him. They called him into all their councils; they called him into all their feasts; they called their public park after him. Lissner Park is named for local businessman and politician, Isidor Siegfried Lissner. Lissner arrived on the Charters Towers Goldfield as a strorekeeper with premises on Mosman Street in 1872. He was from Posen in Prussia and had worked for some years previously on the Victorian and New Zealand goldfields. During his time in Charters Towers Lissner developed a secure financial footing based on mining and commercial interests. Lissner was a friend of the miner: “Anyone who was working a show had no difficulty in getting six month’s credit at Lissner’s. His bonhomie and kindness of heart were universally appreciated.” (TNM: 25/07/1902) In 1883, Lissner stood for the seat of Kennedy, which included Charters Towers as an Independent Liberal, which he narrowly won. He became a strong advocate for better community services for the municipality

T

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 122

and won the approval for his opposition to the introduction of cheap Asian, Kanaka and German labour into the mining and sugar industries to Queensland. Lissner was also a strong supporter of North Queensland Separation when in 1887, he travelled to England as a joint advocate to its cause to the British government. He held the seat of Kennedy for nine years and was Minister for Mines and Public Works briefly in 1893. In 1896 Lissner was elected to the seat of Cairns, which he held for one term. He died in Brisbane in July 1902. Lissner never married. Lissner was a man of slight build with an enthusiasm for social entertainments and keen interest in community affairs. He pushed for the establishment of sporting facilities and public amenities such as Lissner Park. At one stage he was president of the School of Arts and the Hospital Board. (TNM: 25/07/1902)

8 . 3 G E O R G E J O H N S O N , C U R A T O R

MR. GEORGE JOHNSON. DEATH AT AGE OF 79

Evolved the Acalypha. Mr George Johnson, lately Curator of the Townsvllle Botanical Gardens, died at his residence, Eyre Street, North Ward, early on Tuesday morning at the age of 79 years. At the time of his death there was probably no greater authority on tropical plant life in the North. A lifelong association with plants— he knew no other vocation throughout his entire life enabled him to make some important discoveries, the most important of which was undoubtedly the brilliantly coloured Acalyphas that to-day adorns Townsville’s street garden plots. From a very early age Mr Johnson was afflicted acutely with asthma, but he displayed an amazing physical endurance of it, and it was only in April last that he grudgingly announced his retirement. The late Mr. Johnson was an Australian native. He was born at Beechworth, Victoria, where his father had settled along with other migrants from the Homeland in the employ of a mining syndicate. Johnson Senior soon realized that he was not cut out for mining and was beginning to look around for something else, when his employer was taken by the sight of his home garden. 'Who taught you to garden?' enquired the manager. ‘I’ve done nothing else all my life until I came here,' was the retort. The garden had been supplying the whole settlement with fruit and vegetables, but from then on its owner's services were employed in the making of a garden for his employer. The family subsequently returned to England, but the climate was detrimental to George's asthma, and he decided that Queensland was the place for him. He reached Townsville in 1883, when the late Mr. T A Gulliver was about to establish the celebrated Gulliver Gardens, and Mr Johnson was commissioned to proceed to Sydney and choose the original stock for the nursery. He spent two years with

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 123

the late Mr. Gulliver, and then went to Sir Robert Philp who, Mr. Johnson often said, was not sufficiently recognised for the services he rendered in introducing to Townsville many of its established plants. Mr. Johnson used to recall with some amusement the misgivings he held when a boy from Burns, Philp and Co. Ltd. delivered to him a bag of dry grass. 'What's this?' he demanded. 'I don't know,' replied the youth, 'but you've got to grow it'. The grass bad come from New Guinea, but it was hay when Mr Johnson soaked it with water and burled it in a long trench. The result was a few green shoots, which were planted out and eventually produced a paddock of succulent fodder: There was too much for Sir Robert's few head of milkers to cope with, so every stockowner In the neighborhood tried it out and then produced some roots to grow their own. Mr Johnson named it Guinea Grass and Guinea Grass it has been ever since. About this time Mr Johnson felt the desire to learn something about mass production, so he returned to England. His experience in the tropics gained him employment in several nurseries, including those of the Earl of Durham and the Marquess of Zetland. But the climate again undermined his health and he was forced to return to Queensland before he could complete the education he had set out to obtain. He was back in Townsville In 1886 and in 1889 went to Charters Towers as Curator of Lissner Park, a position he held until 1926 when he came to Townsville to work under the late Mr W Anderson, whom he succeeded as Curator from the date of Mr Anderson's retirement about four years ago. The supreme triumph of his botanical experiments came with the evolution of the Acalypha. He had secured three specimens from the Cairns Tableland and quickly sensed the possibility of incorporating the colours of each in one plant. The early results were not heartening, but by continually crossing the male and female entitles of different flowers and securing them against contamination by pollen from birds and insects he eventually evolved three satisfactory specimens. At this stage he eliminated two of the original plants and continued to breed from the others. The first three were borne south triumphantly, two being eagerly accepted by the Curators at Brisbane and Sydney. Today there are over thirty varieties of the Acalypha growing in various parts of Queensland, some of the more brilliantly coloured varieties being eagerly sought after. Mr Johnson used to boast that he could tell of any Acalypha, its genealogical history back from the eighth and ninth generation. It was always a source of wonderment to those who knew him that Mr Johnson could carry on so long under the severe handicap imposed by the illness that so mercilessly Inflicted him, but he fought it vigorously to the end and up to the time of his retirement performed all of his supervision by the aid of his bicycle. He loved to converse with anybody on the subject of plants and his shrewd advice on the suitability of this plant or that was eagerly sought and always

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 124

graciously given. Following so closely on the death of the late Mr Anderson his expert guidance as an advisor will be missed.

From: Townsville Daily Bulletin: 14 October, 1936, page seven

Note: Johnson’s stated age at death and years of employment with the Charters Towers City Council do not agree with other more reliable sources.

8 . 4 T I M E L I N E

1845 – Ludwig Leichhardt explores the Burdekin River. 1861 - The first pastoral leases are taken up along the Burdekin River. 1871 - The discovery of gold at Charters Towers takes place in December. 1872 - The township of Charters Towers is established along Mosman Street in April. 1872 - John Deane erects the Defiance mill on Mosman Creek. 1875 - Gold returns from the St Patrick Block and the Brian O’Lynn Mines make Frank Stubley the first millionaire miner on the goldfield. 1876 - EHT Plant erects a pyrites machine upstream from the Defiance mill. 1877 - The municipality of Charters Towers comprising one square mile is declared in June. 1878 - A number of reserves including for botanical, and recreational purposes are gazetted for municipal use. 1879 - A railway reserve comprising over 46 acres is gazetted over the lower half of present day Lissner Park. 1881 - The Day Dawn P C Gold Mining Company is the first of the new ‘no liability companies’ to be floated on the Charters Towers Goldfield with the unprecedented capital of £24,000. 1882 - The railway from Townsville opens at Queenton in December. 1883 - EHT Plant expands his milling interests and water rights on Mosman Creek. 1883 - A temporary reserve comprising 18 acres, 3 roods, and 34 perches is declared; this later becomes Lissner Park.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 125

1885 - A government grant of £350 is spent clearing stumps and rubbish from the temporary reserve. 1885 - A mining exchange, commenced in the billiard room of the Crown Hotel in August is the first attempt at securing outside investment on the goldfield through local hands. 1886 - William Casey removes his sawmill from the western side of the temporary reserve. 1886 - The first known public meeting held on the temporary reserve takes place after an Anti-Chinese League is formed. 1886 - Ore and gold samples from Charters Towers and other Queensland mining centres exhibited with a working quartz crushing mill at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London commences British capital investment in mining at Charters Towers. 1888 - The temporary reserve is named Lissner Park in honour of local storekeeper and politician Isidor Lissner. 1889 - The discovery of the Brilliant Reef by Richard Craven promotes deeper mining on the goldfield. 1889 - A further government grant of £175 spurs on the development of Lissner Park. 1889 - Alfred Powell is appointed gardener of Lissner Park. 1889 – The Kennedy Regimental Band presents the first concert in the park on 23 June. 1890 - The Charters Towers Stock Exchange is successfully re-formed by the town’s sharebrokers in the Royal Arcade, Mosman Street. 1890 - By 1890, sporting facilities on Lissner Park include a cricket pitch and a tennis court. 1891 - Lissner Park becomes a permanent reserve when the municipal council is appointed trustee on 17 August. 1895 - In September, Lissner Park is described as “a paltry piece of ground, shabbily planted and devoid of any particular beauty …” 1898 - The Day Dawn P C Mine is the first mine in Queensland to return £1,000,000 worth of gold.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 126

1899 - Gold production peaks at 319,572 oz, which makes Charters Towers the second most important city in Queensland and an internationally noted goldfield. 1901 - The Commonwealth Fountain’s unveiling in Lissner Park on the 1 January is the highlight of local activities that celebrate the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia. 1901 – The census counts the greatest number of people - 22,259 – to be living within a 12 mile of the post office. 1902 - The Band Rotunda is opened in Lissner Park in June. 1902 -The Queen Cross Reef Mine makes the last of the great discoveries on the field. 1903 - The Federation Drought breaks after three years of negligible rainfall. 1904 - A second tennis court is built on Lissner Park beside the Duck Pond. 1905 - George Johnson is appointed curator of Lissner Park. 1905 - As mining all but ceases, the town’s decline manifests itself in various shades of significance: when town clerk since 1883, Henry Bleasdale Walker, resigns for health reasons, John McDonald, the town’s first mayor dies in London, P J Allen who is Tom Buckland’s local agent and the goldfield’s richest man, moves south, and Kate King, the first child born at Charters Towers dies in December. 1905 - The Benevolent Horticultural Society forms in Charters Towers. 1909 - Charters Towers is proclaimed a city in April. 1910 - The Boer War Memorial Kiosk opens in Lissner Park in October. 1913 - Thomas Mills’s proposal to sink a deep shaft in the southern end of Lissner Park fails to materialise. 1916 - A children’s playground is first in evidence on the Church Street side of Lissner Park. 1917 - The removal of houses and other buildings from the city peaks at 252 for the year as the city goes into decline. 1921 - Two German field guns are positioned in Lissner Park. 1924 - George Johnson ceases employment as the gardener at Lissner Park and is later replaced by Albert Adams.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 127

1932 – “The park is little more than a place of leafy shade with seating accommodation.” 1942 - Following the construction of an aerodrome at Corinda in February, the USAAF 3rd Bomb Group arrives in March to conduct bombing missions over Papua and New Guinea. 1942 - Lissner Park converts to military use by American and Australian forces. 1949 - The City Council develops a city beautification scheme for Charters Towers. 1959 - The Hann Monument is erected in Lissner Park. 1965 - Clyde Berryman commences as a gardener at Lissner Park. 1971 - The north-east corner of the park is excised to build the Kennedy Regiment Memorial Swimming Pool which is opened in 1972. 1973 - The Rotary Fountain is opened in Lissner Park. 1975 - The Commonwealth Government’s RED scheme funds the construction of concrete paths through the park. 1997 - The Jupiter Mosman Monument is unveiled in Lissner Park by the Mayor of Charters Towers, Brian Beveridge on 24 May. 2001 - The Commonwealth Fountain is restored by the City Council. 2012 - A Yarning Circle is opened in the park.

8 . 5 C H A R T E R S T O W E R S P O P U L A T I O N

1872 – 3,000 (approximately) (RM) 1873 – 3,000 (approximately) (RM) 1877 – 6,000 – 7,000 (TNM) 1881 – 5,370 (ARDM) 1883 – 6,000 (approximately) (TNM) 1887 - 11,600 (ARDM) 1891 - 18,825 (ARDM) 1898 - 25,715 (ARDM) 1901 – 22,059 (APOH) 1911 – 18,345 (APOH) 1921 – 5,682 (APOH) 1933 – 6,978 (APOH) 1947 – 7,561 (APOH) 1954 – 6,961 (APOH)

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 128

1961 – 7,633 (APOH) 1966 – 7,755 (APOH) 1971 – 7,529 (APOH) 2011 - 8,234 (ABS) Sources: ABS - Australian Bureau of Statistics ARDM - Annual Report of the Department of Mines APOH - Australian Post Office History - Charters Towers RM – Ravenswood Miner newspaper article TNM – The Northern Miner newspaper article

8 . 6 L I S S N E R P A R K C U R A T O R S , G A R D E N E R S , P A R K S U P E R V I S O R S

Alfred POWELL – Commenced 1889, terminated 1904. George JOHNSON – Commenced 1905, Terminated 1924. Albert Edward ADAMS – Commenced 11-02-1935, Terminated 13-08-1965. Service 30 years 192 days. (CTRC Payroll Records) Clyde Bernard BERRYMAN – Commenced 25-02-1962, Terminated 03-08-1998. Service 36 years 47 days. (CTRC Payroll Records) Alan Charles RISDALE - Commenced 24-06-1985, Terminated 16-08-2002. Service 17 years 58 days. Alan returned on a casual labourer basis for the period (07-10-2002 to 26-02-2003). (CTRC Payroll Records) Michael NEMEC - Commenced 04-11-2002, Terminated 28-02-2006. Service 3 years 117 days. (CTRC Payroll Records) Troy Lawrance RISDALE - Commenced 16-10-2006 to present. (CTRC Payroll Records)

8 . 7 T H E S T R U C T U R E N A M E S

Michael Brumby has provided specific advice regarding the correct names of two of the structures within the park. The first is the Commonwealth Fountain mentioned in the North Queensland Register: 21/01/1901 - 17 - Charters Towers Water Board. The finance committee’s Report recommended payment totalling £1063/1/6 - wages, extension of mains and the Commonwealth fountain ... The second is the Boer War Memorial Kiosk referred to in the The Northern Miner: 22/02/1910 - 4 - Tenders will be received at the Town Hall on March 17 for the erection of a memorial kiosk in Lissner Park. See advertisement for further particulars.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 129

The Northern Miner: 22/02/1910 - 1 - TENDERS will be received at the Town Hall, Charters Towers, up to noon on THURSDAY, the 17th day of March, 1910, for the ERECTION of MEMORIAL KIOSK in Lissner Park. Drawings and Specifications may be inspected at the Town Hall, and any further information required upon application to the undersigned. By order. S. W. HARRY, Town Clerk.

8 . 8 Q U E E N S L A N D H E R I T A G E R E G I S T E R E N T R Y

The following entry is from the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection website.

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 130

Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk and Lissner Park

Place Details

Place ID 600397

Registration Type State Heritage

Place Name Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk and Lissner Park

Place Classification Landscape Built

Place Category Monuments and Memorials

Place Type Memorial/Monument

Themes 8 Creating social and cultural institutions / 8.5 Sport and recreation 8 Creating social and cultural institutions / 8.6 Commemorating significant events

Register Entry Date 21/10/1992

Location

Address Bridge Street

Town / Suburb CHARTERS TOWERS

Post Code 4820

LGA CHARTERS TOWERS REGIONAL COUNCIL

Cultural Heritage Significance

Principal Period of Significance

1883-(social) 1883-1988(historical) 1883-1959(fabric)

Criterion A The Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk, constructed in 1909, is significant because it exemplifies a widespread social movement expressing Australian patriotism and nationalism during the early twentieth century and belongs to a class of commemorative memorials which record local community response to events such as war.

Criterion D The Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk,

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 131

constructed in 1909, is significant because it exemplifies a widespread social movement expressing Australian patriotism and nationalism during the early twentieth century and belongs to a class of commemorative memorials which record local community response to events such as war.

Criterion E Lissener Park has retained it's fine Victorian character as a result of the survival of many of the trees supplied by Ben Gulliver, Townsville nurseryman and botanist.

Criterion G The park has been a focus for community cultural and social activities since its inception and was the venue for commemorative events and for political gatherings during the turbulent years of the rise of the Labor Party during the last decade of the nineteenth century.

Criterion H Lissner Park , named after Queensland MLA and local businessman Isidor Lissner, is important as the earliest recreation venue in Charters Towers. The park, developed as a response to the prevailing belief that gardens improved the moral character and enhanced the social well being of the community, was established with the support of Lissner.

History

History A Temporary Reserve for Public Recreation of 18 acres 3 roods 34 perches, bounded by Anne, Deane, Bridge and Church Streets, Charters Towers, was proclaimed on 15 May, 1883. In 1888 the reserve was named Lissner Park after Isidor Lissner, a Charters Towers businessman and politician and later a minister in the 1893 Griffith Ministry. Discovered in late 1871, Charters Towers became the richest of the North Queensland mining fields. The field was proclaimed a town in 1877, and by the early 1880s was a prosperous settlement which made a major contribution to the social,

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 132

political and economic development of North Queensland. The predominant vegetation of the Charters Towers district was Eucalyptus woodland and open Eucalyptus woodland, which was quickly destroyed as timber was felled and used as shoring for the mines, for building purposes, and as fuel for the Cornish boilers. Concern that the environment was being destroyed led to protests about the loss of vegetation from leading citizens, including Anglican Bishop Gilbert White and Isidore Lissner MLA. As a result of the devastation and in keeping with the prevailing belief that the development of gardens improved the moral character and social well being of the community, Lissner encouraged the Charters Towers Municipal Council to request that a reserve be set aside for recreation and botanical purposes. A Temporary Reserve for Public Recreation, proclaimed on 15 May, 1885, was placed under "the control of the Municipal Council" and on 17 August, 1891 the park became a permeant reserve with the Municipal Council appointed as trustees. The park was named after Isidor Siegfried Lissner who arrived in Charters Towers in 1873 after living for some time on mining fields in southern Australia. During his time in Charters Towers Lissner developed a financial empire based on mining and commercial interests. He took a keen interest in community affairs and pushed for the establishment of sporting facilities and public amenities such as Lissner Park. At the urging of his friend Robert Philp he stood for the seat of Charters Towers in 1883. After his election he became a strong advocate for better community services for the municipality and he won the approval of the community when he opposed the introduction of cheap Asian, Kanaka and German labour into the mining and sugar industries. Lissner was also a supporter of the North Queensland

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 133

Separation Movement and he became Minister for Mines and Public Works in 1893. Development of the park was funded by government grants of £350 in 1885 and £175 in 1889. Early work included clearing stumps and rubbish, leveling the ground and tree planting. Tenders were called for a gardener in June 1889 after the first plantings died. The new gardener replanted the park with trees supplied by Ben Gulliver of Acacia Vale Nursery in Townsville. While Ben Gulliver was actively involved in supplying plants to several botanical gardens in North Queensland there is no evidence that Lissner Park was developed as a botanical gardens. Some of the Gulliver trees which still survive include tamarinds, figs, various palms and pine trees. The public quickly saw the value of an area reserved for recreation and took advantage of the cleared ground to build a cricket pitch. Attending concerts in the park became a favourite evening pastime as well. As the popularity of attending social and musical events in the park grew, the Lissner Park Committee, set up to raise funds to oversee the development of the reserve, suggested that a Band Pavilion Fund be established to pay for the construction of a pavilion. In 1889, Charters Towers architect WG Smith jnr, designed a structure which cost £250 to build. The design was octagonal with a 48ft diameter platform in the centre for the band. Around this stage there was space for dancing or for seating. The corrugated iron roof was supported by ornamental iron pillars and provision was made in the design for curtains to be let down to protect the band if rain fell. Other celebrations held in the park included Queen Victoria's Jubilee, the birth of Federation, memorial events at the death of Queen Victoria and events to honour people who went to the Boer War and World War 1. During the Boer War a South African Patriotic

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 134

Fund was established in Charters Towers to assist families and soldiers affected by the war in Africa. £1200 was left in the fund after the war and the Municipal Council suggested that a kiosk be built in Lissner Park as a memorial to Charters Towers people who served in the war. In 1909 the Council offered a prize for the best design for a Memorial Kiosk. Mr F Jorgensen, Director of the Technical College, won the competition, however, during construction his design was slightly altered when the floor design of the Australian Flag and the Union Jack, to be created in tiles, was removed because it was seen as inappropriate that people would walk on the flags. It is not know who built the kiosk but the iron work was supplied by local foundry Walton & Millgate. A honour board, erected at the western end of the kiosk, contains the names of those soldiers from the district who lost their lives during the Boer War. Over 7000 people attended the opening ceremony and enjoyed the promenade concert after the opening by Mayor SH Thorp. The celebrations lasted all day and during the evening the band rotunda, fountain and kiosk were brightly lit for the concert. Because the park had become a recognised central gathering place it became the obvious location for protest meetings in the late 1880s and early 1890s. On 24 March 1889 a vocal group from the Charters Towers Mining Union met in the park to pass a resolution asking the government to amend the 1884 Land Act to give miners the right to mine lease hold land. In another meeting in the park in July 1889 2500 miners and local people assembled to discuss and give support to the strikers at the Day Dawn PC Mine who were out on strike over measures taken by the owners to prevent gold being stolen. A gathering in August 1889 gave support to the government's proposal to introduce an eight hour day and a meeting,

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 135

called by the Charters Towers Branch of the Australian Labor Federation, met in the park on 1 March 1891. The issue under discussion was the need for a resolution of the dispute between shearers and pastoralists over working conditions and wages. The Lissner Park meeting requested that the government bring both parties together to resolve the issue and that conciliation boards be established by the government to settle such disputes in future. Photographic evidence indicates that a bush house, which no longer exists, was constructed in April, 1891. A 'tin' fountain , installed prior to 1910, was removed from the park in 1964 or 65 when the Lions Club built a ceramic tiled fountain. The original tin fountain, which no longer works, has recently been returned to the park. A small lake was constructed in 1911 and the toilets and lighting were extended in 1912. A small zoo, which was constructed at the northern end of the park along Plummer St, is now being slowly removed because the care of animals is costly and time consuming. A new, smaller, animal enclosure was developed in 1988 on the site of the 1911 lake. A memorial to Joseph and William Hann, early explores and pastoralists in the Kennedy District, was erected in 1959 to celebrate the centenary of pastoral settlement. Extensive concrete paths were constructed under the Red Scheme in the 1970s. These walkways follow the line of some earlier 'cinder' paths which cris crossed the park. The recreation reserve was reduced in size in 1971 when a swimming pool was constructed at the northern end of the park on land bounded by Plummer and Church Streets. It was probably at this time that Mosman Creek, which now forms the boundary between the park and the pool, was lined with concrete and stone along the section bordering the park. Some renovations to the kiosk were carried out in

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 136

mid 1970. The Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk was entered on the Register of the National Estate in 1978 and in 1989 a National Estate Grant of $31,300 was awarded for conservation work on the kiosk. The bandstand has recently been repaired and painted and the installation of an irrigation system to water the whole park has created a pleasant, cool environment which is being utilised by the local community and travellers.

Description

Description Lissner Park Lissner Park is a recreational reserve of some 7 hectares. It is bounded by Anne, Church, Plummer, Deane and Bridge Streets, and is located three blocks to the north of Gill Street, the main street of Charters Towers. It is well grassed with a scattering of perimeter trees and remnant avenues, and a collection of structures and enclosures. The structures include the Band Rotunda and the Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk. The park is relatively flat, rising gently towards Anne Street to the south. Mosman Creek separates the northern end of the park from the remainder. The central part of the park includes many of the park's structures and several mature trees including large figs. The southern end of the park is grassed, gently sloping and bound by perimeter trees. There is some remnants of a central axis formed by structures and planting. The trees within the park include figs, jacarandas, eucalypts, tamarinds, palms and silky oaks. The Band Rotunda is located on the central axis of the park towards Mosman Creek. It is octagonal in plan with a corrugated iron pyramid roof and cast iron finial. Constructed in timber, it has posts paired at each corner and a cast iron fringe between. The chamferboard base is largely hidden by a small hedge. The structure

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 137

is encircled by palm trees, and nearby are several large fig trees. At the boundary to the west of the bandstand, are wrought iron gates with gate posts and some cast iron fence posts. Further to the south of the bandstand, and also on the central axis is the remnant of the fountain. It is encircled by a ring of trees and a small bougainvillea hedge. The fountain is raised on a small platform, bound by a low concrete retaining wall with a moulded top. The fountain has a crucifix form in plan, is constructed from folded 'tin' sheets, and exhibits evidence of removed decorative elements. Other elements of the park include a playground, the 1959 memorial to William Hann, the 1988 fernery, the 1988 animal enclosure and the 1972 Rotary centenary pond. Traversing the park, Mosman Creek is now lined with stone and concrete, and is crossed by two timber and steel footbridges. Across the creek two animal enclosures with some emus and a kangaroo. In the north-eastern corner is the Kennedy Regiment Memorial Swimming Pool which is not part of the park. Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk Standing to the west of the fountain is the Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk. It lies on an east-west axis, with both ends semicircular in plan, and is constructed in cast iron and steel. The kiosk is an open structure, with an inner and outer ring of cast iron columns with Corinthian capitals. These support the red bellcast corrugated iron roof and encircling concave verandah. The roof is punctuated with three small louvred dormers to each side, and has ridge ventilators, cast iron cresting and flagstaffs at each end.. The outer ring of columns have cast iron brackets. To the south-western corner are panels of timber louvres between the columns. Raised one step on a concrete plinth is the inner ring of columns. Running between these is a cast iron

LISSNER PARK 8

APPENDIX B: SUPPORTING HISTORICAL MATERIAL

■ 138

balustrade. Above is a series of steel struts providing the bracing. At the western end of the kiosk, behind the louvres is a servery with marble benches. Above the benches are three marble plaques facing east, with gilded lettering naming some eighty local soldiers who served in the Boer War. Facing the kiosk at the eastern end are two canon.

Element

Element Name Boer War Veterans Memorial Kiosk and Lissner Park

Design Period 1870s - 1890s Late 19th century

Construction Period 1883 - 1988

Place Components Pond/s - garden Memorial - kiosk Fernery Bridge - foot/pedestrian Gate/s Playground Fountain Enclosure/s - animal Trees/Plantings Natural feature - cliff Bandstand/Rotunda

Images and Maps

Images