Gisborne Botanical Gardens

Gisborne Botanical Gardens is a public garden in Gisborne, New Zealand, that dates back to 1874. The Gisborne Botanical Gardens nowadays occupy 5.1ha between Aberdeen Road and the Taruheru River. There are still many trees remaining from the early period.There is also a Gisborne botanic garden in the town of Gisborne, Australia.HistoryThe Botanical Gardens is Gisborne's oldest reserve. It was set aside in 1874 as a public garden. In that year a recreational reserve of 2.55ha was created, just outside the city boundary beside Taruheru River. The site developed into Gisborne's first recreation reserve, where cricket was played, until 1901, when Victoria Domain became the home for cricket.Between 1915 and 1920 an area of native bush was planted.By the 1960s the poplars which were planted in the early days of the gardens were mature. The row of trees along the river front was known as Poplar Avenue. The Botanical Gardens was developed as formal Botanical Gardens by this time, with ornate grand entrance gates and wide pathways and rows of flower beds. During the late 1960s the park was managed more as a park.In 1972 a “free flying” aviary was constructed. During the 1970s the Gardens were shifting to a 'Botanic Garden' again, rather than a park as Council had decided in the 1960s.In 1978 Mr and Mrs J.B. Grieg bequeathed their Cacti collection to Council. A glass house was built in the Botanical Gardens to provide space for this collection.In 1994 the Gisborne District Council adopted the concept of developing three sister gardens, in relation to the sister cities of Gisborne around the Pacific Rim.