Melbourne bot. Garden
11/9/69.
Allow me, dear Mr Fitzgibbon, to draw the attention of the City Council to the desirability of some improvements being effected in the Yarra ground near the bridge of this garden and towards Wellington Parade. The necessity of some new works and several repairs in the locality indicated is obvious. But I beg on this occasion to suggest respectfully for the consideration of the City council only the following measures.
1, some unexpensive steps on both sides of the earth wall, which forms the approach to the bridge.
2, digging around the elms, which form an avenue to the railway-station
3, tarring of the tree guards.
4, cutting down or uprooting dead trees and cutting away dead limbs, as certainly sooner or later accidents will occur by the falling of the brittle wood on the passers bye. This may be effected for the value of the wood, which will, I think, not be worth more than the labor of cutting.
5. placing a few simple seats under the best remaining trees
6. Saving the rest of the fine old trees by removing the misletoe, which has destroyed the majority of them already.
7. Removal of the inside post and rail and wire fence, which is only now in a ruinous state. By selling this some means might be found to repair the gates.
8. Formation of a few plain walks, indicating the nearest lines through the ground
If the Corporation was pleased to approve of my suggestions, it might be the simplest plan, to entrust me with these improvements, and if only the sum of thirty pounds1 £30 could be voted, I would do the best I could with such means. The City Council might perhaps authorize me at the same time to deal with the dead timber to the best of my judgement.
The two men, employed for the City Council on the Yarra bank will have so much work yet to perform there, that it would not be wise to withdraw them from their regular engagement for the improvements indicated.
I have the honor to be, Sir, your very obedient
Ferd. von Mueller.
Would it not be possible, that the grazing-fees raised in the ground are always devoted for improvements on it?2
Please cite as “FVM-69-09-11,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on