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The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney , Australia , are the largest of three major botanical gardens open to the public in Sydney, along with the Mount Annan Botanic Garden and the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden . The park, managed by the same trust as The Domain adjoining it, is free to access and open every day of the year. The Botanic Gardens are situated overlooking Farm Cove, directly east of the Sydney Opera House , Circular Quay and Macquarie Street . On the southern edge the Cahill Expressway borders it and on the eastern edge, Art Gallery road. The 30 hectares of garden, established in 1816 along with the adjoining Domain , were originally designated as the private garden of the Governor Of New South Wales , beginning with Governor Captain Arthur Philip; but were made open to the public within fifteen years. Prior to Governor Philip's arrival on 26 January 1788 the local Aboriginal inhabitants, the CADIGAL tribe, used the tidal area along Woccanmagully (Farm Cove) for an initiation ground and the 'Kangaroo and Dog Dance'. Originally the Botanical Gardens, it was permitted the prefix of royal in 1959 to become the Royal Botanical Gardens of Sydney. In 1787 Captain Arthur Philip , who was to be Governor of New South Wales, stopped at Rio De Janeiro in Brazil , and Cape Town in South Africa and collected plants and seeds, which he then planted at ‘Farm Cove’ on the shores of Port Jackson, on arrival in Australia in January 1788. The experimental farm at Farm Cove failed and he granted a part of it to Nicholas Devine, who was a superintendent of the convicts. Devine secured a larger block of land in 1794, and Joseph Gerrald occupied the Farm Cove garden. He died four months later and the land reverted to the Government, and has remained government property since. During Governor William Bligh ’s tenure, up to January 1810, the garden was a series of walks, shrubbery and clumps of trees. Through this Governor Lachlan Macquarie made his road to Mrs Macquarie's Chair , a look-out at the tip of the headland to the east of Farm Cove, now at the end of Art Gallery Road. It is believed the gardens were formally dedicated as the botanic garden at the same time as the chair was completed that date being the 13th of June 1816; this particular area is now known as the Middle Garden. Charles Fraser was appointed as garden superintendent in 1816 and arrived to take up his post in 1817, given the title ‘Colonial Botanist’. He instigated the purchase of a further five acres and by 1825 had introduced nearly 3,000 new specimens of food plants and fruit-trees under the direct orders of Governor Lachlan Macquarie. When Fraser died in 1831, he was replaced by Richard Cunningham, who was responsible for the laying-out of the Lower Garden. Allan Cunningham took his brother’s place when Richard was killed by Aborigines in 1835. Allan was required to continue with the care of vegetables, being dissatisfied with the lack of proper botanical garden plantings he soon resigned his position as Colonial Botanist. Other Colonial Botanists were: James Anderson, who died in April 1842; William Nasmyth Robertson, who died in July 1844; temporary superintendent was James Kidd until John Carne Bidwill was appointed on 1 September 1847 and was given a new title of Director and Government Botanist. The British Government made an appointment at the same time and Charles Moore arrived in Sydney on 14th January 1848 to take up the position of Colonial Botanist, so Bidwell was transferred to his new job of Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Wide Bay district, north of Brisbane. Stuart Donaldson , premier of New South Wales , was displeased by the dual appointment and moved to reduce the annual salary to £150, a move that failed. His second attempt to have the gardens sold as allotments also failed. Moore went on to hold the position for 40 odd years. He remodelled the greater part of the gardens, under his supervision during 1869 and 1870 a semi-circular stone wall was erected and the harbour frontage was reclaimed. He received a pension in 1896 and was succeeded by Mr. J. H. Maiden, and then Dr. G. P. Darnell-Smith from 1924 until 1933. In 1933 separate control was created for the gardens and the herbarium. Today, the Garden features many different flora from Australia and overseas such as the Titan Arum and the now famous Wollemi Pine . It also has a dedicated tropical centre, feature gardens, indigenous art, kiosks and cafes. The Royal Botanic Gardens are managed by the Royal Botanic Gardens Trust, a division of the New South Wales Department Of Environment And Conservation . The final scenes in the film '' The Matrix Revolutions '' were filmed in the gardens. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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