Heritage Treasures of the Toowoomba Region 2013 6791801HeritageTreasuresOfTheToowoombaRegion2013 | Page 8

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Part B
Valuing Our
Open Spaces
B1 Avenues of Street Trees
B2 Laurel Bank
A
mong Toowoomba Region’s greatest assets are its
extensive green spaces. Forward-thinking citizens such as
Toowoomba’s first mayor, William Henry Groom, saw the advantage of
establishing open spaces for the enjoyment of the whole community.
In the 1850s, our premier open space, Queen’s Park, was the
Government Camping Ground, a resting place for travellers.
On New Year’s Day 1858, sports were held there including rifle
shooting, horse and foot races and climbing the greasy pole. The city’s
first municipal baths were located nearby on the site of the present
Vera Lacaze Park and the area continues to be used for cricket,
football and musical events.
In 1888, a petition requesting that part of The Range escarpment
be set aside for recreational purposes was unsuccessful, but in 1911
Redwood Park was gazetted. Since then a network of bushland
and urban parks has been established for sporting, recreational and
conservation purposes.
Edward Way, who was appointed first curator of the
Botanical Gardens in 1874, experimented with camphor
laurel trees as wind breaks. His successor, Richard Ross
Harding made use of them as street trees. In maturity, they
form attractive avenues in older suburbs and have become a
significant part of our city’s identity – our signature tree.
In 1932, Samuel George Stephens donated Laurel Bank,
covering an area of four hectares, to the citizens of Toowoomba.
Gates recognising this gift were opened in 1934.
Mr Stephens had developed the park with plantings of
exotic trees including some of the first jacarandas in the city.
During World War II, huts were built in Laurel Bank for the
use of American servicemen enjoying rest and recreation in the
city. One remains and is used by community groups.
Statues line the pathway from Hill Street to the Scented
Gardens which were developed for the visually impaired as
a joint project by the Rotary Club of Toowoomba East and
Toowoomba City Council.
B3
Newtown Park
In 1912, the Gowrie Shire Council purchased the land
which was to become Newtown Park. The Town of Newtown
administered it from 1913 until 1917 when responsibility was
transferred to the Toowoomba City Council.
B1
From the beginning, the park was the location for various
sporting events such as tennis and croquet. Band recitals
and concerts were popular and a tradition of military use was
established before World War I. During World War II, the park was
used as a recreation centre for American service personnel. One
of their huts, formerly a Guide Hut, remains as Rose Cottage.
Former Toowoomba Mayor, Dianne Thorley, officially opened
the State Rose Garden in Newtown Park on November 25, 2001.
Plaques commemorating the history of Newtown Park
have been erected and regular events such as wreath-laying
ceremonies by the 11 th Light Horse Association are held.
B4
The University of Queensland
Boyce Gardens and Rainforest
B2
The Boyce Gardens and Rainforest in Range Street cover six
hectares and were established in 1929 as a private garden by
prominent Toowoomba citizens Margaret and Leslie Boyce. For
more than 60 years some 700 species of flowering trees, shrubs
and perennials were established. About 80 species of birds
have been recorded living in or visiting the gardens.
The home of Dr and Mrs Boyce was built in 1930 with
additions in 1940 and an upper storey added in 1955. In 1974,
the External Studies Centre, funded by public subscription, was
opened. Today it is leased by Toowoomba Open Learning Centre
for use by external students and community groups. Water
for the gardens comes from a subartesian bore. In 1969, the
Boyces entrusted the gardens to the University of Queensland
for the enjoyment and education of the people of Australia.
B3
B4