The Fernery in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens started as an ornamental shelter house of timber construction in 1876 with further extensions being made over the next decades.The tradition of a Fernery in the Botanical Gardens is important historically because of Its location as the focus at the northern end of the formal Gardens and, as an attraction and part of Ballarat's Victorian heritage.31/2 pages of print in large font with some italics throughout.None.john garner, doctor, john garner collection, ballarat botanical gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, fernery, valentine lohse, ballarat city engineers' office, james veitch, gardenesque, "fern mania"., george longley, gardens, ballarat