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Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā

Correspondence (pre 1927)

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Botanic Garden Board

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Parallel NameWellington Botanic Garden BoardDate Range1869-1891DescriptionThe Botanic Garden Board was responsible for the development of the Wellington Botanic Garden from 1869-1891. It was comprised of leading politicians and scientists, who were also the Governors of New Zealand Institute (the forerunner to the Royal Society Te Apārangi). The Botanic Garden Board aimed to meet three overlapping needs of the Colony: as a trial ground for examining the economic potential of plants; as a place for the scientific study and collection of plants; and as a garden for public enjoyment (Sheppard and Cook).

The impetus for the Botanic Garden Board came from Dr James Hector, who was manager of the Garden as well as Director of the New Zealand Institute. Realising that establishing a Colonial Garden required more resources, he drew on the support of his associates. In 1869 Alfred Ludlam, a Member of Parliament and keen horticulturalist, introduced to Parliament the Wellington Botanic Garden Bill. The Bill was passed, a Crown grant was executed, and control was given to the Botanic Garden Board. The first meeting was held on 28 September 1869.

The Botanic Garden Board began with a programme of fencing, cutting roads and paths, clearing gorse, and establishing planting. A lot of the native bush had been cleared by settlers and what remained was protected through regenerating the surrounding areas. Funding was to be an ongoing issue with different ways to make money being constantly sought. Whilst there was an initial donation from the New Zealand Institute, there was no ongoing funding from central government and, aside from a proportion of rents from the Town Belt, sporadic funding from local government (Wellington City Council Archives, 00233-1889/1301). Funding was to come through other ways, with plant trials and selling trees for Government schemes proving most successful.

They also set about establishing trial gardens and scientific reserves. The trial gardens aimed to discover what plants and animals would be of benefit to the Colony and settlers. The most important was the need for quick growing timber and shelterbelt species. The Botanic Garden Board imported species from around the world, notably Europe, North America, India, China and Japan. The impact of these trials is evident today with Pinus radiata being used throughout the timber industry and Monterey cypress providing windbreaks on farms, both of which were imported from California. The scientific reserves enabled the study of native plants, collected from as far afield as the Chatham and Auckland Islands. Many of these were displayed in Hector’s Teaching Garden, with labels providing their scientific, popular and Māori names (Sheppard and Cook).

The Botanic Garden Board had several notable members during its existence. Early on the Board decided Dr James Hector, Alfred Ludlam and William Travers were to become a management committee. Twice when Hector was overseas, Walter Mantell took his place as acting manager. In effect these four men were responsible for the day to day running of the garden and implemented the Board’s decisions. Other members contributed in various ways including Thomas Mason’s vast plant donations, Thomas Kirk’s forestry work and George Gibb’s curatorial work.

In 1891 the Botanic Garden Vesting Act was passed, transferring management from the Botanic Garden Board to the Wellington City Corporation. Out of concern that the Garden would become a municipal park, Travers included a clause that the original 13 acres would remain a true botanical garden. At time of transferal the foundations of the Garden had been implemented, with roads and paths created, and planting established. Hector noted that aside from the gorse and a broken gate, the sixty acres of garden appeared in good shape. This was confirmed but the Council’s Reserve Committee later that year (Winsome and Sheppard). External linksAlfred LudlamWilliam TraversWalter MantellThomas KirkThomas MasonBOTANIC GARDEN BOARD, 1879-80 (ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE).

Correspondence (pre 1927)

Notice Board wanted - Custodian, Botanic Gardens

With statement of balance - Botanical Garden Board

Subsidy - Botanical Gardens Board

Asking for cheque - Botanical Garden Board

Asking for subsidy - Botanic Garden Board

Asking for cheque - Secretary Botanical Gardens Board

Asking return regarding Town Belt rents - Botanic Garden Board

Asking information regarding town belt rents - Botanic Gardens Board

State of the road by Botanical Gardens - Karori Makara Road Board

Thorndon recreation ground - Botanic Garden Board

Fencing etc Glenbervie Terrace - Botanic Gardens Board

Glenbervie Terrace embankment - Botanic Garden Board

Granting permission to use road metal for their property - Botanic Garden Board

Will copy letter before next meeting of the board - botanical Garden Board

Removal of gravel in Tinakori Road - Botanic Gardens board

Botanic Garden Board, application for formation of road from Te Aro to Botanic Gardens

Document

Botanic Gardens Board, referencing land set apart for cemetery - 28 January 1875

Botanic Garden Board, 10 April 1891

Place

Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā

Black and white photograph of Botanic Garden,
Man leaning on fence overlooking ferns / pungas

Citation
Wellington City Council Archives, 00138-12304

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Described ByAnna ScoreyDate of Description31/06/2023

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