Colour photographballarat botanical gardens, cuthbert house conservatory, flower beds

A delightfully framed shot of the Botanical Gardens in the mid to late 1950s. We can be reasonably sure of the date of this image because it shows the Keel House conservatory. Designed and fabricated in England, it was then re-assembled in the Ballarat Gardens in 1906. It was purely for display, only allowing public viewing through glass windows at either end. It became known as the Keel House because the roofline resembled a boat hull. The Keel House was replaced in 1959 by Cuthbert House, another conservatory which also did not allow public access. Cuthbert House was replaced in 1995 by the present Robert Clark conservatory, which allows public access for the first time. Note other details in this photograph, the sprinkler at full bore and the little boy hiding behind the sundial. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library.greenhouse, glasshouse, keel glasshouse, garden, building, public building, ballarat botanical garden

This image shows the 1906 Keel House conservatory. It was designed and fabricated in England, then re-assembled in the Ballarat Gardens. It was purely for display, only allowing public viewing through glass windows at either end. It became known as the Keel House because the roofline resembled a boat hull, but this roof profile was specifically designed to ensure that snow would be shed from the roof. It was replaced in 1959 by Cuthbert House, another conservatory which also did not allow public access. An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.statues, greenhouse, lake wendouree, botanical gardens, marble lion statue, charles summer, james russell thompson, william wallace statue

Cuthbert House, erected in 1959 as a display house for the famous Ballarat begonias. It replaced the earlier Keel House. The conservatory was not open to the public, but the flowers could be viewed through the windows. It was replaced in 1995 with the current Robert Clark Conservatory. The former Lakeside Hospital can be seen in the background. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library. greenhouse, botanical gardens, lake wendouree, lakeside hospital, hothouse, ballarat, conservatory, begonias

A small conservatory at the Eureka Stockade Gardens housed begonias which did not quite 'make the grade' to be shown at Cuthbert House at the Botanical Gardens. Visiting this hothouse was sometimes a way to 'beat the crowds'. Mrs Strange's photograph shows these begonias were still worth seeing. Mrs Bon Strange and her husband Bert were well known Ballarat residents. When Mrs Strange died some years ago, her extensive slide collection was sorted through and those relevant to Ballarat were gifted to the Ballarat Library.conservatory, begonias, begonia festival, eureka stockade