Carl Axel Nobelius established the Gembrook Nurseries in 1886 on sixty-three acres purchased from an original selector after the area's gold rush started to diminish. It was called the Gembrook Nurseries as it was located in the Parish of Gembrook, but it was commonly referred to as the Nobelius nurseries after its founder; especially as control of the remaining portions of the nurseries remained with the Nobelius family until 1955. The Nobelius Nurseries had a substantial impact on the development of the township of Emerald, as local farmers were able to earn funds during the winter by working at the nursery which gave them financial resources while waiting for their own farms to become productive. The need to transport plants and trees to port quickly also contributed to the development of rail infrastructure in the region; C.A. Nobelius was one of thirteen witnesses to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways in 1898 debating a rail connection between Gembrook and Ferntree Gully, which became today's Puffing Billy tourist service. The nurseries occupied 280 acres at their peak in 1905, with more than one million trees available for sale at that time. The nursery focused on exotic fruit and ornamental species which were supplied to public parks and gardens all over the world. In several cases the nurseries were the first suppliers of the trees in Australia. Sales records show that trees were supplied to clients in Europe, Asia, the United States, Africa and New Zealand, as well as to many Councils and Government organisations around Australia, such as Melbourne's Fitzroy Gardens and Royal Botanic Gardens. Portions of the Gembrook Nurseries were sold at different times throughout the Twentieth Century, with the Emerald Country Club and Emerald Lake Park both occupying portions of the original land. In 1981 the final twelve acres were purchased by the Shire of Sherbrooke in recognition to be used as a heritage landmark in recognition of the site's significance.The photograph is significant because it demonstrates the extent of stock cultivation at the Gembrook Nurseries during the early decades of the Twentieth Century; a period in which the nurseries were the leading Southern-hemisphere supplier of plants and trees to public gardens around the world. Museum acquisition records indicate this photograph was taken in the period 1908-1912.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on photographic paper. The photograph depicts a central view of cultivated fields and trees along the skyline at the Gembrook Nurseries in approximately 1908-1912.Obverse: Gembrook Nurseries - Central View /1900s, 1910s, farming, agriculture, trees, gembrook nurseries, carl axel nobelius, emerald park lake, emerald country club, parish of gembrook, fitzroy gardens, royal botanic gardens, melbourne, shire of sherbrooke

Central Motors, Newspaper Article, History

In 1886, Carl Axel Nobelius purchased 63 acres of land from an original selector in the small settlement, in an area now mostly occupied by the Emerald Country Club. The enterprise was called Gembrook Nurseries, being part of the Parish of Gembrook, but was more commonly known as Nobelius Nursery after its proprietor.This record holds historic significance as it captures the history of agriculture in the 1910's within Gembrook and gives us an idea of the prominence agriculture had on the development of Emerald and surrounding suburbs. There is also strong research potential due to the presumed time period the photograph was taken.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper. This black and white photograph consists of a central view of Gembrook Nursery. In the image, we can see the agriculture grown by Gembrook Nurseries on the rolling hills. Circa 1909.Obverse: GEMBROOK NURSERIES-A CENTRAL VIEW /1910s, emerald & district collection

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