The Beechworth Burke Museum
Photograph - Lantern Slide, c1900
... Gardens), circa 1900. Queen Victoria Park was first secured... Gardens), circa 1900. Queen Victoria Park was first secured ...
This glass slide depicts a group of school children standing in Queen Victoria Park (previously Beechworth Botanic Gardens), circa 1900. Queen Victoria Park was first secured in 1858 by the Beechworth Council with the assistance of the Central Board of Health (CBH). The CBH was a firm believer in the socially beneficial effects of parks and other recreation areas which is why they aided the council in securing the parkland. the council held a local competition for the design of the park and decided on a plan called "Better late than never" by Hungarian nobleman, J.A. Rochlitz. The first non-native trees were planted in 1861 and have since been heritage listed on the National Trust's register of significant trees.
There are nine trees located in Queen Victoria Park that are currently on the National Trust's register. These are the Loblolly Pine, Italian Cypress, Shore Pine, and the Big Cone Pine. These trees hold significance as they date back to 1875 and show rare and localised examples of these types of species which are not seen in many other places in Victoria. The trees in the background of the glass slide depict a species of the pine tree and may be some of the trees still standing in Queen Victoria Park today.This glass slide captures social and historical significance as it not only captures a moment in time of these school children, but it also shows environmental significance for the heritage trees depicted in the background.burke museum, beechworth, lantern slide, slide, glass slide, plate, burke museum collection, photograph, monochrome, queen victoria park, indigo shire, school, j.a. rochlitz, beechworth council