BOTANIC GARDENS. (1)
ILLUSTRATED.
One of the wonders of Hongkong is the engineering skill which has transformed the steep hill slopes into residential suburbs, with garden terraces, and footpaths, viaducts, and even motor roads. Yet buildings were not erected in any numbers on the Peak until the Eighties. This is shown in the old photograph reproduced below which depicts the "Albany" at the back of the Public Gardens, newly built with a bare Peak as background. The highest standing house in those days was known as "Blue Bungalow" and it is shown a little to the right of the "Albany" block, the house furthest up the hill slopes and not very far above Robinson Road level.
The Albany was so named after the Duke of Albany. The Gardens, it will be seen, had the fountain and bandstand much as they appear to-day. The Gardens were laid out by Government from 1860 onwards. In 1861 they were placed in charge of Mr. T. Donaldson, who was given the title of Curator. Plants and seeds were first obtained from England and Australia and on completion of the work the Gardens were thrown open to the public on October 7, 1861. Some time later the Parsee community raised funds for the provision of a public bandstand which was erected as shown in this old photograph.
It might be recalled that beginning two years ago, a service reservoir was dug under the two lowest terraces and it has since been turfed over and the flower beds replaced.
It is intended to give a fuller account of the history of the local Botanic Gardens than has hitherto been attempted. As a start we might take a brief summary of the founding of the Gardens, and their subsequent progress. It was on August 8, 1848, that the first effort to create interest in the forming of a Public Botanical Gardens was made. On that date the local branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (a body unfortunately since defunct) held a meeting at which a paper was read by Dr. Gutzlaff (see 18-7-33) in which he strongly advocated the advantages of establishing Botanical Garden here. As a result of this advocacy a committee was appointed to enquire into the questions of a site and the likely costs of such an undertaking.
The idea had caught on with the general body of residents and was supported on all sides: the Government were approached on the matter, and it was hoped to have official support which no doubt might have led to realisation of the project at that early period. However financial considerations were sufficient to deter the Governor, Sir S. G. Bonham, from immediately supporting the plan, and it was dropped for the time being.
BOTANIC GARDEN (2).
56
BOTANIC GARDENS. ( 1 )
ILLUSTRATED.
One of the wonders of Hongkong is the engineer- ing skill which has trasnformed the steep hill slopes into residential suburbs, with garden terraces, and footpaths, viaducts, and even motor raods. Yet buildings were not erected in any numbers on the Peak until the Eighties. This is shown in the old photograph repro- duced below which depicts the " Albany" at the back of the Public Gardens, newly built with a bare Peak as back ground1 The highest standing house in those days was known as " Blue Bungalow" and it is shown a little to the right of the " Albany " block, the house furthest up the hill slopes and not very fár above Robinson Road level.
The * Albany
was so named after the Duke of
lbany. The Gardens it will be seen, had the fountain and bandstand much as they appear to-day. The Gardens were laid out by Government from 1860 onwards. In 1861 they were placed in charge of Mr. T. Donaldson, who was given the title of Curator. Plants and seeds vere first obtained from England and Australia and on completion of the work the Gardens were thrown open to the public on October 7, 1861. Some time later the Parsee community raised funds for the provision of a public banstand which was erected as shown in this old photograph.
It might be recalled that beginning two years ago, a service reservoir was dug under the two lowest teraces and it has since been turfed over and the flower beds replaced.
It is intented to give a fuller account of the history of the local Botanic Gardens than has hitherto been attempted. As a start we might take a brief sum- ary of the founding of the Gardens, and their subse- quent progress. It was on August 8, 1848, that the first effort to createinterest in the forming of a Fublic Botanical Gardens was made. On that date the local branch of the Royal Asiatic Cociety (a body unfortu- nately since defunct) held a meeting at which a paper was read by Dr. Gutzlaff ( see 18-7-33) in which he strongly advocated the advantages of establishing Botanical Garden here. As a result of this advocagy a committee was appointed to wnquire into the questions of a site and the likely costs of such an undertaking.
a
The idea had #
# caught on with the general body of resedents and was supported on all sides : the Go- vernment were approached on the matter, and it was hoped to have official support which no doubt might have led to realisation of the project at that early period. However financial considerations were sufficient
to deter the Governor, Sir S. G. Bonham, from immediately supporting the plan, and it was dropped for the time being.
BOTANIC GARDEN
( 2 ).
56
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.