plants

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...

The town pool built in 1936 saw a number of managers throughout the years, including Allan Scheskie who managed it from about 1942 to 1945. Leigh Gunston (nee Scheskie) recalled that, in the old days when water was pumped from Auckland Creek to fill the pool, she had to blow seaweed away in front of her when breast-stroking. Bill Potter (around 1953), Bob Austin (around 1961), Vince Breslin and Cecil Ringuet were later managers. In early 1959, the Gladstone Town Council voted to allocate 10000 Pounds ($20000) to install a chlorination and filtration plant. There was some opposition to this plan, with some aldermen and citizens expressing the view that the pool was outdated and should be replaced with an Olympic sized pool rather than undergo a renovation. The new pool was not to become a reality for nearly 20 years. Source: gladstonehistoryinc.wordpress.com/entertainment-in-the-ea...

A bush-house is an Australian term for shade-house, created to grow plants that prefer shady conditions and thrive in warm climates. This shady environment simulates the rainforest understorey. Sometimes called a Fernery or Fern House. o IT IS NOT A GLASSHOUSE or true conservatory. o In design terms, this is where garden architecture and horticulture combine! PURPOSES of BUSH-HOUSES 1. As a working greenhouse to propagate and cultivate shade-loving plants 2. To display plant collections 3. As a recreation facility (for sitting, thinking, reading, taking te Bush-houses were extremely popular in Queensland from the 1880s to 1940s, ranging from Government House (OBG and Fernberg) to suburban cottages and villas, to outback homesteads, in private & public gardens. Source: brisbanebotanictreasures.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/...

Merthyr House was constructed during 1878-1880 and is located in the inner Brisbane City suburb of New Farm. This was the home to former Chief Justice of Australia and Premier of Queensland, Sir Samuel Griffith, and his wife Lady Julia Griffith. The house was commissioned by Sir Samuel and the couple took up residence in 1880. The centerpiece of the house was the Merthyr House Ballroom, where the couple would host both social and official engagements. This grand building was demolished in 1963 with a lack of money to maintain and upkeep the large house being cited. Source: griffitharchive.griffith.edu.au/items/merthyr-house/