| Historical notes: | The "Eora people" was the name given to the coastal Aborigines around Sydney. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora Country". Within the City of Sydney local government area, the traditional owners are the Cadigal and Wangal bands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of the Dharug language. Remnant bushland in places like Blackwattle Bay retain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish and rock oysters.
With the invasion of the Sydney region, the Cadigal and Wangal people were decimated but there are descendants still living in Sydney today. All cities include many immigrants in their population. Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such as Pyrmont, Balmain, Rozelle, Glebe and Redfern since the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.
(Information sourced from Anita Heiss, "Aboriginal People and Place", Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani )
Before 1855
Prior to white settlement, the Victoria Park area was heavily treed with several temperate rainforest species and a spring draining through to the swamps of Blackwattle Bay.
As settlement approached, trees were felled to service the needs of Sydney. The area was known as 'Parakeet Hill' and later 'Grose Farm' after Lieutenant - Governor Grose who received an early land grant in the area and used the land for grazing cattle.
Reclamation work between Blackwattle Bay and Victoria Park resulted in in an increase in the size of what was called 'Horse Pond' at the bottom of the slope of the Park.
Grose Farm was selected as the site of the University of Sydney in 1855, with provision for the formation of 'park and garden' on land that was to be known as Victoria Park.
1885-1911
In 1865 extra land was added and dedicated as an Approach Reserve, to provide a formal axis to the University quadrangle, by the 1880s this was developed as a double avenue of fig trees.
On the 16th of July 1870, Victoria Park was formerly dedicated and named with a body of trustees appointed. The vista to the University Tower was reinforced by the construction of two Gothic Revival gatehouses ( c 1885) with accompanying formal stone gate piers and gates. A road was constructed along the main vista and a wooden footbridge was built to provide access over the lake in this area, reinforcing this axis.
The bowling club was founded in the 1890s with one green and a clubhouse.
1911-1990
In 1911, the management of Victoria Park was given to Sydney City Council, works carried out to the park included; park planning, further plantings, establishment of a childrens playground, extension of the bowling club and the introduction of park lighting.
The University handed over its Approach Reserve land to the Council in exhange for Council land closer to the Medical School in the 1920s. In 1925 Parramatta Road was widened, causing the loss of some fig trees which caused alarm to the local community.
In 1936 the Gardener's Lodge was altered to accommodate Public Conveniences
In 1939 the Entrance Gates and gateposts were removed and relocated to City Road/Eastern Avenue entry to Sydney University.
In the 1930s, the lake was cleaned, grass laid, flowers planted and pathways were formed in a remodelling scheme. Iron railings around the park were removed and a was fence constructed between the University and the Park, with many of the vistas to the University being lost from the avenue. In the 1950s Council constructed a swimming pool, further obscuring the vista.
In 1940 Messenger's Lodge, which was in a deteriorated state, was demolished.
The lake was reformed and made smaller in the 1960s and the bridge removed and over the years park plantings were modified and flower beds were taken out in the 1970s to possibly reduce maintenance costs.
In 1964 a totem pole was given to Council as a gift from the Canadian Government and erected near the gatehouse. This has since been moved to near the Cleeveland Street entry junction.
Post 1990
1998 - A new bridge was constructed over Lake Northam and the old University axis formalised with new paths and planting.. By 1988 the bowling club buildings had been demolished though a car park remained well into the park
By 2003 the University had completed the formal steps on the axis with the old double avenue, the bowling greens had been removed and the area regraded and returfed.
In 2007 the Entrance Gates and gateposts relocated from Eastern Avenue /City Road back to their original location adjoining Gardener's Lodge.
2010 - New children's playground within the park.
2012- Gardener's Lodge restored and adaptively reused for a café |