Bob Thomson Gardens

Author

City of Albany

Place Number

15509

Enlarge Map

Show Property Street View

There no heritage location found in the Google fusion table.

Location

277-291 Middleton Rd Mt Clarence

Location Details

Other Name(s)

Council Quarry
Quarry - Middleton Road

Local Government

Albany

Region

Great Southern

Construction Date

Constructed from 1960

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	27 Oct 2020

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
(no listings)

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	30 Jun 2001	Category B	Category B • Requires a high level of protection. • Provide maximum encouragement to the owner under the City of Albany Town Planning Scheme to conserve the significance of the place. • A more detailed Heritage Assessment/Impact Statement to be undertaken before approval given for any major redevelopment. • Incentives to promote heritage conservation should be considered.
Local Heritage Survey	Adopted	27 Oct 2020	Considerable	Considerable Very important to the heritage of the locality.

Statement of Significance

Bob Thomson Gardens has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
The place is a fine example of a post-war modernist public park/garden that has been well and authentically maintained since its establishment.
The place is historically significant as the site of the former Council Quarry.
The place has landmark value being set on the prominent side of Middleton Road and with its sweeping and open presentation to the streetscape.
The place as a cultural landscape is an excellent example of the ways a damaged environment can be retrieved and beautified.
The place is associated with well-known local gardener and sportsman Bob Thomson.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Good streetscape value
• Mature trees
• Waterfall
• Stone retaining walls

History

The Bob Thomson Gardens were developed as an Albany Rotary project during the 1960s.

The gardens were established on the site of the old quarry on Middleton Road that was owned by the Albany Municipal Council. This was operated by the Council from the 1920s until 1947 when White Rock Quarries took over the lease of the quarry. The company did not utilise the existing plant but brought its own plant from Perth. New metal bins were erected and a new road made to facilitate safe and easy access.

A major contributor to the beautification and development of the old quarry into the Bob Thomson Gardens was Spike Daniels, who was the driver behind much of the work and maintenance of the garden for many years. The garden’s waterfall as well as other features utilises the remnant granite and the cut/blasted walls of the former quarry. The gardens is an excellent example of the ways a damaged environment can be retrieved and beautified.

The park was named after a locally renowned gardener and sportsman in swimming, football and cricket.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High/Moderate

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Oral History Information given by Tom Knight Life Member of Apex		2001
	"Albany Advertiser"		24/6/1966
	Heritage TODAY Site visit and Assessment		1999

Place Type

Urban Park

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Present Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve
Original Use	PARK\RESERVE	Park\Reserve

Historic Themes

General	Specific
DEMOGRAPHIC SETTLEMENT & MOBILITY	Technology & technological change

Creation Date

17 Mar 2000

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

15 Feb 2022

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.