Plan of the Government House and Domain …

Rare map of Joseph Sayce’s original design for Government House and Domain gardens, Melbourne. Joseph Sayce, was a banker, amateur horticulturist and landscape gardener who submitted a design for the gardens as a gift to the government and which was adopted.

The grounds of Government House, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Melbourne’s Domain were originally landscaped as a single parkland. The Victorian Government had run a competition for the ground’s design, but none of the 20 entries were considered suitable. The horticulturalist Joseph Sayce offered an unsolicited design as a gift, which was accepted in 1873.

Sayce’s original design of curved drives, meandering paths and irregular arrangements of trees remains intact. Further refinements to the design were made by the project’s curator, William Guilfoyle (the noted Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens). Guilfoyle contributed exotic plant varieties and lush semi-tropical walls of foliage, as well as developing a more extensive sweep for the carriage drive.

Collections:
National Library of Australia: Bib ID 1335930
State Library Victoria: MAPS 821.0
University Melbourne Library: .b2575239X