Three Ballarat notables were appointed by Mr Thomson to select the Statuary for the Botanical Gardens after his death.The tablet is significant in recording the benefactor and those responsible for the selection of the statuary. Also, the tablet testifies to the high esteem in which Mr Thomson was held.Brass tablet. Coloured photograph photocopied.Nonemr w.d. thomson, j. noble wilson, horatio arthur nevett, thomas stoddart, committee to select the statuary, statuary in the ballarat botanical gardens, benefactors, tablet., john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat

The bust of Gough Whitlam had gone missing from the Prime Ministers' Avenue, in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens.The Prime Ministers' Avenue in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is unique and the Ballarat community are proud to have this commemoration of Australian Prime Ministers. In 1975, there was great concern expressed about the missing bust. Also, the Whitlam Government lost office amid a constitutional crisis in 1975.Black and white cartoon depicting the busts of two Prime ministers, William McMahon and Gough Whitlam and two Ballarat Council workers in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens published in the Age? newspaper, Melbourne. Vic.In faint pencil, right hand bottom of page, 10/10/75the bust of gough whitlam, prime ministers' avenue, vandalism to statues, prime ministers' busts in the ballarat botanical gardens, john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat

The centre piece of the Ex-PoW memorial is Peter Blizzard's work in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Obituary written by Gordon Morrison, Director, Ballarat Art Gallery.The Ex-PoW Memorial is a significant landmark in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens and many visitors come to pay their respects.Newspaper Article from the The Ballarat Courier with three coloured photographs. No precise date given; sometime in 2009.None.peter blizzard sculptor, peter blizzard obituary. pre-eminent australian sculptors, peter blizzard biography. blizzard's work in the ballarat botanical gardens, stone gardens journey. ex-pow memorial., blizzard, sculptor, john garner collection, garner, dr, ballarat botanical gardens, gardens, ballarat

Plan of Police Paddock, Ballarat, 6th October 1855.In 1855, the Police Paddock occupied the land of the present Ballarat Botanical Gardens.One large white sheet of paper photocopied and folded with a black margin at either end, and the plan and printing in longhand.The Plan is signed and dated by the Acting Surveyor and Assistant Surveyor, October, 1855.john garner collection, garner, dr, police, paddock, plan, map, 1855, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, wendouree, swamp.

Botanic and Public Gardens Reserve: Early Map.This Plan shows how the Ballarat Botanic Gardens had been set out and part of the Lake Wendouree area in 1885.One large cream sheet of paper, folded in two.bottom of the page on the right in blue biro, "From: Jim Reynolds, 29.10.94".john garner collection, garner, dr, map, early, gardens reserve, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, 1885, public, wendouree parade, w. barbour.

Floral Clock, Ballarat Courier, 5th March 1954, ceremony to hand over to city of Ballarat.The Floral Clock in the photograph predated the clock in the Gardens today and the site may have changed. Although the photograph makes this hard to decipher.One page of a black and white photocopy of a newspaper page, with a blurred photograph of the clock, top of the page and a small caption to the right of the photo.None.john garner collection, garner, dr, clock, floral clock, 1954, ceremony, courier, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens

James Oddie is an archetypal example of the young men of British origin who came to the Ballarat diggings hoping to make their fortune during the Gold Rush and stayed on to establish the foundations of the regional centre that became the modern city of today.James Oddie witnessed the Eureka Stockade and played a significant role in the formative years of Ballarat's development.Part of a single newspaper sheet, folded, yellow with age.Nonechartists, eureka stockade, geelong, buninyong, doctor lang, foundry business, storeman, licences, estate agent, benefactor, ballarat benevolent asylum, rachel riding, female refuge, ballarat bank, mount pleasant observatory, electric light, trams, ballarat botanical gardens, railways, ballarat art gallery, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat

James Oddie had returned from travels abroad and gave a speech at the Ballarat Art Gallery concerning the pleasure and importance of being a benefactor during one's lifetime in the light of Christian beliefs.The article indicates the esteem in which Oddie was held and notwithstanding other benefactors' contributions to Ballarat. Even if they were not as wealthy, their contributions were not forgotten.Two pages of small black and white print in columns.Bottom of the page, "Courier" is written in blue birojames oddie, benefactor, ballarat art gallery, ballarat botanical gardens, the ballarat courier, thomas stoddart, james russel thomson, frederick moses claxton, wealthy citizens, christian example, ballarat star, ballarat courier, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat, oddie

Particulars of Thomas Stoddart's death registered.The Death Certificate gives further perspective on this renowned Ballarat citizen.One page divided into sections with printed headings at the top of the page and listings down the page written in longhand. To be read horizontally.Printed, longhand, top righthand corner, Thomas Stoddart 1905. On the back of the sheet, written in longhand "Obtained 22 Feb, 2010 for FBBG, History Group. thomas stoddart, ballarat botanical gardens, doctor john garner, 10 carrera marble statues, death certificate, friends of the ballarat botanical gardens, sharebroker, miner, john garner collection, gardens, ballarat, stoddart

J.Russell Thomson made his fortune from gold mining and was one of Ballarat's great benefactors.While J.Russell Thomson left a generous bequest to be spent on statues in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, it is claimed that he played an active role in the events of the Eureka Stockade.A narrow wide piece of newsprint with a coloured photograph with caption, left hand side, folded and dog-eared right hand side.None. Very likely cut out of the Ballarat Courier newspaper, c2010.doctor john garner, ballarat botanical gardens, gold mining, benefactor, statues, eureka stockade, grave restoration, friends of the ballarat botanical gardens, trustees, scottish miner., gardens, ballarat, thomson, courier, john garner collection

The FBBG History Group found in their research at the Public Records Office of Victoria that the Trustees of Thomson's Estate arranged for the City of Ballarat to undertake the care of Thomson's grave following the transfer of 10 pounds. However, the grave needs restoration and it was found that the Council still bears responsibility for its upkeep.James Russell Thomson had been a generous benefactor to the City but as a bachelor, he had no descendants to care for his grave, which had fallen into disrepair. It was found that the Ballarat City Council still had responsibility for the upkeep of this grave.A one page letter to the Mayor, Councillor Verlin, Ballarat City Council from FBBG and 2 pages of black and white photographs of Thomson's grave and headstone and a coloured photograph of the Thomson tablet at the Town Hall plus a quotation for work needed on the grave.3 corrections in biro to the letter, 2nd and 2nd last line.doctor john garner, ballarat botanical gardens, friends of the ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat city council, james russell thomson, noble wilson, public record office of victoria, benefactors of the gardens and their graves, old ballarat cemetery, john garner collection, gradens, ballarat, thomson

Thomas Stoddart was greatly respected and remembered by Ballarat people as can be seen in the commissioning of a bust and marble tablet in his memory.Thomas Stoddart was the first great benefactor of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.1 coloured photographLabel on back, printed in blue biro, "Thomas Stoddart, Grave BOC, March 2007."john garner, doctor, thomas stoddart's grave, old ballarat cemetery, ballarat botanical gardens, benefactor, stoddart collection of classical statues, john garner collection, gardene, ballarat, stoddart

So highly regarded was F.M. Claxton that with his untimely death, public subscription funded the Claxton Memorial Fountain in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. F.M. Claxton was dedicated to transforming the Swamp and Police Paddock in Wendouree into a beautiful Lake and Gardens.One dark coloured photograph.On back of photograph written on attached label, "Claxton Fountain, 2002".john garner, doctor, ballarat botanical gardens, lake wendouree, swamp, police paddock, mayor, public subscription, ballarat rowing club, mechanics institute trustee., claxton, gardens, ballarat, john garner collection