CHAPTER XXXII. T H E BOTANIC G A R D E N S ; A N D T H E Y A R R A BEND.
SYNOPSIS.—Past and Present Botanic Gardens. —Curators, Messrs. Arthur, Dallochy, Voii Mueller, and Guilfoyle. — The Yarra Bend Asylum.—Captain Watson, First Superintendent.—Opening of the Institution.—Lunatics Returned by New South Wales.—A Chained Lunatic—Pastoral, Agricultural, and Industrial: The First Bucolic Society—Its Prospectus.—Initiatory Dinner.—Post-prandial Prayers and Toasts.—The First Show. —The First Farmers' Society— The Victoria Horticultural Society.—Mr. Fawkner Its Promoter.—Its First Board of Management.—Its First Exhibition, 16th March, 1850—Awards—The Second Exhibition, 30th October, 1830. —The Third Exhibition, 30th September, 1831—Planting of the First Vines.—Making ofthe First Wines.—Industrial Resources of Port Phillip — Formation of the Victorian Industrial Society. —The First Board of Management.—The Society's First Exhibition, January, 1831—Second Exhibition, September, 1831—Gunpowder Explosions and Powder Magazines: The First Explosion.—Blowing Up of the " Sporting Emporium."—Five Persons Killed.—The Collins Street Explosion.—The First Powder Magazine.—Early Closing Movements :—First Early Closing Association.—Election of Officers— Collapse of the Association—Building Societies—The Melbourne Building Society.—Formation of Committee— Election of Board of Management —The Co-operative Land Society.—Presentation to Mr. J. P. Fawkner.
THE GARDENS.
jf HE assertion that the first site for the Melbourne Botanic Gardens was the Spencer Street Railway Station, will be heard yvith almost general incredulity. AVhen Batman decided upon the location of a township on the south side of the River Yarra he designed the northern portion, known as Batman's Hill as a reserve for public recreation. This idea remained fixed in the public mind so far, that in the early part of 1842, the Superintendent of the Province directed Mr. Hoddle, head of the Survey Department, to mark offfiftyacres of the place for the purpose of a Botanic Garden. This was done, and the boundaries were defined to be from the River Yarra to Little Collins Street, and in aline westward ; and from a fence surrounding the Survey Office, at the north east corner of Collins and Spencer Streets, and on the yvest side by the declivity of the hill sinking into the S w a m p . It comprised the land flanked on three sides, viz, by the river, by Spencer Street, and by a prolongation of Little Collins Street, to the verge of the Western S w a m p , and was actually the romantic she-oak hill and the broad green selvage that surrounded it. Meanyvhile the shipping trade increased, and a vilely-smelling row of slaughterhouses jumped up along the river banks near the (now) Gas-works, commencing that Yarra pollution which has groyvn into a huge and almost irremediable abomination. A couple of private docks next appeared, and then the rude, shaky-looking chimneys of boiling-doyvn establishments, candle-making factories, and other kindred industries began to puff and poison the atmosphere. Doubts began to be entertained whether after all, Batman's Hill was the most desirable localityforthe Garden, though it possessed the great advantages of diversity of soil, variety of surface, and convenience of access. Other sites yvere suggested, i.e., beyond the Flagstaff, adjacent to the (now) Benevolent Asylum, the present Fitzroy Gardens, and the western end of the Government paddock (now Yarra Park). Each spot had its adherents and detractors, actuated mostly by personal considerations. All four places indicated were alike unprotected on every side from the winds, hot and cold. T h e subject had been several times ventilated in the T o w n Council; a committee of selection was appointed, and there yvere several inspections of the sites proposed, and hunting up n e w sites, until December, 1845, w h e n the Council Committee recommended the present site, then a small beautiful valley. This place was, in part, used by the Government as a sort of Missionary school site for Aboriginal children, from 1836 to 1841. T h efirstwholesale meat establishment was located there. At the commencement of 1837, the H a w d o n s arrived overland from Sydney, to take up land for the depasturage of herds and flocks,
