Waring Gardens, Bandstand and Pavilion

Item details


Name of item:	Waring Gardens, Bandstand and Pavilion
Other name/s:	Cressy St Garden's,
Type of item:	Landscape
Group/Collection:	Parks, Gardens and Trees
Category:	Other - Parks, Gardens & Trees
Location:	Lat: 144.961401 Long: -35.531567
Primary address:	Cressy Street, Deniliquin, NSW 2710
Parish:	South Deniliquin
County:	Townsend
Local govt. area:	Edward River

Boundary:

Cressy Street, bounded by Harrison, Napier and Edwardes Streets, comprising park, lake, trees within these boundaries, and two octagonal structures (bandstand and shelter), Deniliquin

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
Cressy Street	Deniliquin	Edward River	South Deniliquin	Townsend	Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The Waring Gardens are significant for their past and present use as a passive recreation area adjacent to Cressy Street, the main street of Deniliquin, the location of significant memorials and the efforts of Town Clerk, Mr. John Waring to have the area developed. It is shaded by exotic and native trees and shrubs. The gardens are an essential part of the town and used and appreciated by townspeople and visitors each day.
	Date significance updated: 19 May 05
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	Mr. John Waring - First Town Clerk, advised council to make the lagoon a garden.
Builder/Maker:	Deniliquin Council
Construction years:	1880-1888
Physical description:	Important fixtures are still located in the gardens, such as the obelisk honouring Mr. John Waring, a small pavilion, band rotunda, fountain, and the War Memorial Gates at the north west corner of the gardens. The old footbridge has been replaced with one of modern materials. Children’s play equipment has been introduced, as have modern seats. The Cressy Street boundary is defined by a low brick wall (early photos show a white picket fence). The cannon has been removed to be refurbished by the Deniliquin R.S.L Sub Branch.circa 2004 The Rotunda was built in 1913 and was in use for many years until a fire in 1960 almost destroyed it. The Pastoral Times Newspaper: Reported on 29 August 1961, "that the deck would be lowered by 4 feet to a height of 3 feet from the ground instead of 7 feet as it was previously. Local builder Mr. Brian Smith was contracted to do the alterations "People complained the music was going over their heads".
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Good condition
	Date condition updated:20 Aug 04
Modifications and dates:	As per Council Property Record Cards, Lot 1 Sect 208 No 46-58 Val No: 347. Cert issued 02.07.1973, for Church Hall. Band pavilion and rotunda 1913; soldiers Memorial 1922; Cannon/gun removed from the Gardens to be refurbished by the Deniliquin R.S.L. Sub-Branch circa 2004.
Further information:	The proclaimation plaque is located in the Gardens.


Current use:	Community parkland
Former use:	Community parkland

History

Historical notes:

When mr. John Waring arrived in Deniliquin in 1855, the lagoon was a dirty water hole being blamed for sickness and death in the community. In 1869 when he held the position of Town Clerk he endeavoured to have the area filled in or drained.
In 1880 the Council cleared the area and planted willows, continuing to plant various shrubs and trees in the following years. The gardens were set up as a Botanic Garden to experiment and see what would grow in the area. The gardens also contained a large aviary.
In 1885 a curator of the gardens was appointed. Waring died that same year and in 1888 a ceremony was performed to officially open the gardens, and an obelisk erected in Waring’s honour.
Improvements continued, a band pavilion and rotunda were built in 1913, the Soldiers Memorial was unveiled in 1922 and when the School of Arts was demolished in 1974 the three statues (The Muses) were placed in the gardens (these have subsequently been relocated to the corner of Edwardes and Cressy Street at the Multi Arts Centre complex).
The Boer War Memorial, originally erected in 1902 at the intersection of Cressy and Edwardes Streets, was relocated to a position in the Waring Gardens, then shifted back to its original site at the intersection in 2001.
The fence surrounding the Waring Gardens was originally a white picket fence, this was replaced by a woven wire fence, and this in turn by a low brick fence, which remains to the present time (2002). The cannon/ gun was removed from the garden in 2004, by RSL sub branch.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)	New South Wales theme	Local theme
1. Environment-Tracing the evolution of a continent's special environments	Environment - naturally evolved-Activities associated with the physical surroundings that support human life and influence or shape human cultures.	(none)-
8. Culture-Developing cultural institutions and ways of life	Leisure-Activities associated with recreation and relaxation	(none)-

Assessment of significance


SHR Criteria a) [Historical significance]	The Waring Gardens are significant for their past and present use as a passive recreation area adjacent to Cressy Street, the main street of Deniliquin, the location of significant memorials and the efforts of Town Clerk, Mr. John Waring to have the area developed. It is shaded by exotic and native trees and shrubs. The gardens are an essential part of the town and used and appreciated by townspeople and visitors each day.
SHR Criteria b) [Associative significance]	The gardens are named after Mr John Waring, former Deniliquiun town clerk, who was instrumental in the establishment of the garden and retention of the lagoon system thorugh the town.
SHR Criteria c) [Aesthetic significance]	The gardens provide the focal point for the heritage conservation area of the town. Located adjacent to the CBD, it provides picturesque vistas though the CBD and is the crowning feature of the urban area in sotuh Deniliquin.
SHR Criteria d) [Social significance]	The garden house many monuments and structures which enable the visitor to identify the people, events and social occassions which have helped to shape Deniliquin. Within or adjacent to the gardens are the Cenotaph, St Pauls church and sunday school, the three muses, the CWA rooms all of which are considered as being individual items in their own right.
SHR Criteria e) [Research potential]	The gardens house many monuments and structure which could be used to define the activities, events and people that were important in shaping Deniliquin.
SHR Criteria f) [Rarity]	The gardens are a rare feature in the town, due to the lagoon, the close proximity to the CBD and the structure and form of the gardens within the town's heritage coservation area.
SHR Criteria g) [Representativeness]	The gardens represent a historical and period gardens which is important in understand how Deniliquin has evolved since the gardens where commenced in 1880
Integrity/Intactness:	Good
Assessment criteria:	Items are assessed against the State Heritage Register (SHR) Criteria to determine the level of significance. Refer to the Listings below for the level of statutory protection.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Deniliquin Local Environmental Plan 2013	I3	23 Dec 13
Local Environmental Plan	Sch 1	17	03 Apr 98	64	2379
Heritage study

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
National Estate Register	1978	1/05/352/0009 Place ID 677	Australian National Estate Trust	Unknown	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title
Management Plan	Australian National Estate Trust Register	1978	National Estate Trust Register
Written	Compiled by Deniliquin Library Staff - Local History Parks, Reserves & Gardens	1970	Parks and Gardens recommendation adopted by Council .20.2.1970
Written	Compiled by Deniliquin Library Staff - Local History Parks, Reserves & Gardens	1876	Deniliquin Council to contractors - for bridge.
Written	Compiled by Deniliquin Library Staff -Local History Parks, Reserves & Gardens	1970	Parks & Gardens development has continued 22.12 1970
Written	Complied by Deniliquin Library Local History Files	0	Parks, Reserves & Garden of Denilquin
Written	Complied by the Deniliquin Library Staff	0	Local History Files; PAM WAR / WARING
Written	Freeman, P. of Peter Freeman & Partners Pty Ltd, Architects & Planners,Canberra	1991	Deniliquin Main Street Project Field Inventories
Written	G. L. Buxton	1967	The Riverina 1861 > 1891 An Australian Regional Study - Dr Noyes Experiences
Oral History	Mr. Ken Young,	2003	Heritage Advisor for Deniliquin Council
Written	The Deniliquin Library, Parks, Reserves and Gardens of Deniliquin	1888	Deniliquin Chronicle 31.5. 1888

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1500017

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