WCC, Ōtari-Wilton's bush, Curators diaries, outwards correspondence and plant lists

Descriptive Data

Archives Identifier00315Date Range1933-1967DescriptionThis series is a group of records of planting that occurred at Ōtari-Wilton's bush.

These records include:
- Curators diaries for the Ōtari-Wilton's bush (1933-1967);
- Memoranda to the Director of Parks and Reserves (1947-1966);
- Plant lists for Otari (1930-1940);
- Plants flowering in the Alpine Garden (1932-1939), and undated plant lists from a similar time frame.

In 1926 the Otari Open Air Native Plant Museum was established by Dr Leonard Cockayne and J G Mackenzie. Andrew (Andy) McKay assisted Cockayne in his capacity as a trained gardener and was employed as Officer-in-Charge of the Museum in 1926. The diaries in this series span the years of 1933 to 1967: the first curator was Andy McKay from 1933 until his death in 1946; followed by Walter Brockie, who was appointed curator in 1947 and stayed in the role until he retired in 1962; lastly Raymond (Ray) Mole took over the curatorial role from Brockie in late 1962, retiring in 1991 when the curatorial role was subsumed and became part of the role for the Curator of all the Botanic Gardens of Wellington.

- Andy MacKay's curator's diaries (1933-1946) record schedules of work and holidays for employees, as well as planting schedules, maintenance tasks and occasional wage records. Employees are each assigned a number at the start of most diaries which is used to record the allocation of tasks throughout the year.
- Walter Brockie's curator's diaries (1947-1960) provide additional information including daily weather conditions, daily temperature recordings, events such as visits, and newspaper clippings related to Otari Reserve and conservation work. There is a list of permanent and casual staff and college students at the start of some diaries.
- Ray Mole curator's diaries (1962-1967) record work done, weather, and plants in bloom/fruit.

The outwards correspondence is in the form of Memoranda carbon copy slips mainly recording outwards communications with the Director of Parks and Reserves, replies to enquiries, and records of plants received. These span the years that Brockie and Mole were curators.

There are two main groups of plant lists: the first group includes a list of plants grouped by their location in the reserve and where they were sourced from originally, the second group lists the plants flowering in the Alpine Garden. These lists were likely created by Andy McKay as they predate Brockie.
Quantity (Linear Metres)1MediumBookSystem of ArrangementGrouped by record type and then date. There is a gap in 1961 in the curators diaries.Collection TypeWellington City Council

Access Information

Restriction StatusOpen

Related Agencies

Controlling or Creating AgencyParks and RecreationRelationship Date Range1978-

Related Agencies

Controlling or Creating AgencyParks and ReservesRelationship Date Range1918-1978

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WCC, Ōtari-Wilton's bush, Curators diaries, outwards correspondence and plant lists