Robertson park heritage walk Whitney Fountain
History of Robertson park Five acres (2.2 hectares) was reserved for water purposes in the centre of Orange and was gazetted for public recreation on 13 May 1887 and named Robertson Park after Sir John Robertson who served in State Parliament from 1856 1886 and later became Premier and Governor. The park lies over Blackman s Swamp Creek, the first water supply for Orange. It is said that teamsters frequently camped in the area.
A pair of finely designed gates built by Dick Venables once stood at the south-western entrance to Robertson Park, but were removed and re-erected at the north-eastern corner of Cook Park in 1927. A German Gun from World War I was souvenired by AIF troops and took pride of place at the south-western corner of the park, but was relocated to Cook Park in the 1940 s. A pair of finely designed gates built by Dick Venables
NMcNAMARA STREET 3 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 Robertson park heritage walk 1 Sir Neville Howse Memorial 2 Boer War Memorial 3 Country Women s Association 4 Lions Time Capsule 5 Bandstand 6 Quercus Bicolour 7 Whitney Fountain 8 Cenotaph
1 2 3 4 5 SIR NEVILLE HOWSE MEMORIAL The Sir Neville Howse Memorial was unveiled on 22 July 2000. It celebrates the life of Sir Neville Howse VC (1863 1930) who was a doctor, soldier, Member of Parliament and first member of the Australian Defence Forces to be awarded a Victoria Cross. Sir Neville Howse was Mayor of Orange in 1914 and 1921. BOER WAR MEMORIAL The memorial honours the troops who served Australia in the Boer War (1899-1902) and was originally erected in the centre of the Summer and Anson Streets intersection. The people of Orange funded the memorial and Brigadier-General Gordon, Commandant of the New South Wales Forces unveiled it on 29 March 1905. It was moved to its present location in the 1930s. COUNTRY WOMEN S ASSOCIATION This hall was originally the Orange City Bowling Club bowlers club house which was opened on 19 March 1902. The bowling club moved to a new location in Anson Street in 1922 before moving to its present location in Warrendine Street in 1964. The CWA occupied the clubhouse which was to become the first Baby Health Centre in Orange. An extension was added in 1954. LIONS TIME CAPSULE The Lions Club of Orange buried a time capsule in the park in 1974. A plaque on the rock marks its position, with the contents to be revealed in 2023. BANDSTAND The Town Band Committee decided in September 1907 to build bandstands in Cook and Robertson Parks with the latter opened by local member the Hon JCL Fitzpatrick on 1 November 1913. It was originally built on the south-eastern side of the park and was relocated to its current position in the 1940s. In the late 1880s English trees were planted around the park and in the early 1890s there was a serious effort to upgrade the area, with walkways formed and seats placed throughout the park.
Boer War Memorial Work on the construction of a channel to convey stormwater and limit flooding in the middle of town began in 1887 and continued at intervals for another 50 years. The channel was covered in the late 1930 s. During World War II, the threat of invasion prompted measures to be taken in the event of an air raid with a section of the channel being reinforced with additional concrete to be used as a shelter. Sir Neville Howse Memorial
6 7 SWAMP WHITE OAK (Quercus Bicolour) If you look up into the tree you can see a plaque. The tree was planted by the Mayor of Orange, Ald JP Jaeger to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. The name of this tree refers to its preference for swampy ground. WHITNEY FOUNTAIN The Whitney Fountain was presented to the Borough of Orange by the employees of Cobb & Co in memory of William Franklin Whitney who was a Director of Cobb & Co and a resident of Orange. It was completed in 1896. Whitney Fountain 8 CENOTAPH The Returned Servicemen s League built the Cenotaph as a perpetual reminder of all those from Orange who paid the supreme sacrifice. The Cenotaph was officially unveiled on 20 April 1952 and was funded by contributions from the community, the RSL and the City Council. Cenotaph
The development of the East Orange Heritage Trail has been a project of Orange City Council. Mr Ross Maroney has researched information for inclusion in this pamphlet. Sketches courtesy of Ross Maroney. Sources for further history & heritage information include: Orange & District Historical Society NSW National Trust - Orange & District Branch Orange Family History Group Orange Heritage Group Orange City Library Explore Orange s history further by taking a self guided walk of Orange, Lucknow or Spring Hill. Photos courtesy of Orange City Library and may not be reproduced without permission. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Orange Visitor Information Centre FREE CALL 1800 069 466 www.orange.nsw.gov.au