Overseer’s House

The Overseer's House is situated in the Botanical gardens, in the Glenbervie section of the garden on the hillside near the Dell and looks over the Begonia House and Lady Norwood Rose Gardens. It is listed as a heritage building by Wellington Heritage. The current building was built in 1876 and has since been improved.

David Hall offered himself as keeper of the Garden in 1869, the year following the establishment of the garden in 1868 and worked as such until William Bramley was hired. His prime motivation seems to have been to prevent vandalism and trespassers to the gardens, in either human or animal form. The residence of the Keeper was originally located on the site which is now occupied by the Director’s House or Annex.

Bramley and his family lived initially in the cottage known as Randall Cottage (the Director’s House). This was deemed to be insufficient for both his family’s needs and the needs of the keeper to be able to fully view the gardens. In 1876, £150 was voted by the Botanic Garden Board for the construction of the Ranger’s cottage and a tender of £123.10 by Douglas and Heder was accepted. 2,000 feet of Kauri was ordered for lining the cottage and the Glenbervie section of the Garden was selected as the site of the new cottage due to its commanding views over the Botanic Garden. The cottage is a simple, timber cottage, of physical interest as an example of late nineteenth century construction techniques and has elements particular to that period such as label moulds. It was also constructed with a relatively unusual double roof.

As well as upkeep of the Botanic Garden, Bramley had the responsibility for keeping law and order on the sizeable and isolated site. Bramley was injured keeping the peace in 1880, and following this incident, a police constable was appointed to the Botanic Garden to assist. Constable Campbell moved into the Ranger’s cottage which became known as the Constabulary or Constable’s Cottage. Other constables to reside there included Constable Gleeson, who replaced Constable Campbell in 1882 and Constable Whelan who replaced Gleeson in 1890.

In 1889 Bramley retired and was replaced by George Gibb, the new head gardener. George Gibb lived in the Director’s Residence until 1901, when he lost both his legs in an accident, and retired as Keeper. George Glen took over as Keeper. The cottage remained a constable’s residence until 1896, when it was reclaimed by the Botanic Garden’s staff as the custodian’s cottage. It was then renamed the Overseer’s House.

New lights were installed in 1906, and when Edward Hutt became Director of the Garden in 1946 more work was done. This included both structural and interior renovations such as new linings, wallpaper etc. It was hoped that this would bring the building up to a reasonably modern standard. An estimate for £590 was made for the repairs that followed. In 1949 the addition of a lean-to was added, and kitchen renovations were done as late as 1970.

Horticultural staff and students have lived in the Overseer’s House from 1898 to the present day.