newsteadhouse

Gardens of Newstead House, Brisbane, ca. 1918

from State Library of Queensland

• Vesna Verencevic said:

  From GARDENING AUSTRALIA: Newstead House is Brisbane's oldest surviving residence. I love its tranquillity, its history but I especially love its gardens. The property was first established in 1846. Since then has been the home of a Darling Downs grazier, a Moreton Bay District police magistrate, and other prominent businessmen and politicians, until it was taken over by the local government in 1918. The homestead originally had a garden planted for food and the front lawns were created to establish a visual connection to the river. But we are interested in the trees. Newstead Park, like many other 19th-century heritage properties, is home to some great irreplaceable assets - grand old trees. Some favorites are: * Crow's ash Flindersia australis a magnificent tree from tropical Australia. The specimen in the park was probably planted before the house was built so it must be over 160 years old. It produces dense foliage, large leaves and then creamy white flowers. * A tree that's unique to Newstead House is a crepe myrtle known as Lagerstroemia speciosa. It was planted about the same time as the house was built and it's claimed to be the largest tree of its kind in the southern hemisphere. * Another was the Ficus virens or Cunningham's fig which sits in the centre of the round-about at the entrance to Newstead House. It was there before the house was built which makes it over 200 years old. These grand old trees perfectly complement the grandeur of the house and garden and are an essential part of our history and environment. These trees are irreplaceable and need to be preserved for future generations. Source: www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/newstead-house/942940...