4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS

Transcription

1 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Wita Wirra/Park 18 Assessment WITA WIRRA : 757

2 Wita Wirra/Park 18 Existing Planning / Development Plan Context No component in Wita Wirra/Park 18 is identified in the State Heritage Register. Wita Wirra/Park 18 exists within the South-East Parks Precinct PL11 of the City of Adelaide Development Plan (pp ). Its Environment is described as: ENVIRONMENT Planting Character and Landscape Design The Eucalypt avenues and boundaries should be maintained along Glen Osmond Road, and reinforced by additional large tree plantings The banks of Park Lands Creek should be regraded to improve safety and amenity and the variation in landform and parkland feature it provides should be acknowledged in its planting character of Eucalyptus species dominant woodland, enclosing playing fields and open grassed areas. Unley Road plantings should be reinforced to reduce the formality of the existing planting, and additional landscaping of the tennis courts in the area between Greenhill, Glen Osmond and Hutt Roads is appropriate. The more formalised landscape of Osmond Garden and the Adelaide Himeji Garden should be maintained. 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Land Use The land use has shifted from a despoiled grazing wasteland to a park land with the commencement of the tree planting program in 1900 onwards. The introduction of intensive sporting or recreational venues, including Osmond Garden, changed the image of the open expansive woodland by establishing more intensive planting approaches and enabling a change of land use function to ceremonial and intensive recreational roles. There is some significance evident in the historical and recreation roles Wita Wirra/Park 18 serves. Natural Features Responsiveness The relatively flat topography, now heavily visually enclosed by vegetation, provides little significance. The presence of a watercourse through Wita Wirra/Park 18 is evident although obscured by dense woodland plantings, and with some understorey or middle-storey plantings. The unnamed watercourse is a major topographical feature and its banks have been historically regraded to soften its appearance and also address regular flooding and peak flows. Little design attention has been historically applied to the watercourse yet it was intended to possess a picturesque presence in the Park within Brown s vision of the locality. Views of the eastern escarpment of the Adelaide Hills can still be obtained from within Wita Wirra/Park 18. There are no natural significant features evident except the watercourse: South Park Lands Creek: a watercourse, in southern area of Wita Wirra/Park 18, is an important drainage feature and has been under-designed in its historical treatment and integration within the overall park. Of some aesthetic and engineering merit. The perimeter of the Precinct should be heavily planted to strengthen the desired woodland character. Permanent Structures Existing buildings in the Precinct should be rationalised or relocated further from Greenhill Road No areas of significant landscape character are identified. No component Wita Wirra/Park 18 has been identified on the National Trust of South Australia s Register of Significant Trees. Significant Components and Places The following section summaries any cultural landscape features that possess cultural heritage value. Overall Spatial Patterns The overall Wita Wirra/Park 18 retains its original shape and form as devised by Light, and has evidence of substantial tree planting that accords with the spatial and species intent of Brown s Report (1880) including pathway alignments. Perimeter pathways and some sweeping paths have been constructed and planted. Perimeter planting appears to have been spatially laid out faithfully including a large mass planting in the southern corner of Wita Wirra/Park 18 around the creek. The introduction of Osmond Garden substantially changed the character of Wita Wirra/Park 18 enabling a formal Gardenesque landscape in the north-western corner. Introduced sporting facilities appear to have minimally altered the spatial configuration proposed by Brown. Wita Wirra/Park 18 s significance is in its contribution to the overall plan by Light and Brown s Report (1880), and also displays a significance formal display garden development as designed and planted by Pelzer, and accordingly is contributory. Circulation Networks Prior to Brown s Report (1880) there is little evidence of any circulation system on Wita Wirra/Park 18. He noted several desire lines or movement routes across the block but remembering that it was entirely fenced for grazing purposes there was little public access into this block. The Report (1880) proposed a system of curvilinear perimeter pathways as design features in Wita Wirra/Park 18. Boundary Demarcations No evidence is present of past demarcation devices and fencing apart from the fundamental road boundaries. The exception is: Golden Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium Aureum ) hedge: a hedge that demarks part of the Osmond Garden from Wita Wirra/Park 18 s sporting fields. Not the original hedge as planted in the 1920s. Of some design and aesthetic merit. WITA WIRRA : 758

3 Vegetation There are several vegetation elements in Wita Wirra/Park 18 that possess cultural heritage merit: Glen Osmond Road Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) Avenue: located on the north-eastern and south-western flanks of Glen Osmond Road. An impressive ornamental boulevard atmosphere with association to a Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) grove adjacent to the north-east that also contains irregularly planted Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis) and Pepper Trees (Schinus aeria var molle) specimens. Planted in , replacing an earlier plantation of Eucalyptus ssp trees planted in c.1876 that were reported in 1911 as dying and of considerable age. Perimeter plantings frame entrance to city, that experienced toxic waste contamination in the watercourse creek in the s resulting in the poisoning some of Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) specimens; younger plantings interspersed with original Sugar Gums (Eucalyptus cladocalyx). Of some historical and aesthetic merit. Golden Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium Aureum ) hedge: a hedge running northsouth and dissecting Osmond Garden from the main part of Wita Wirra/Park 18. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) specimen: located in the western corner of Osmond Garden. Of some historical merit. Palm ssp specimen: located in the western middle of Osmond Garden, and unidentified healthy specimen. Of some botanical and historical merit. South Terrace Street Tree Plantation (J&E: P.B20): part of the overall street tree plantation along South Terrace stretching from Hutt Street to West Terrace that comprises English Elms (Ulmus procera) on the south side and Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) on the north side of South Terrace. Possessing uniformity, the unusual mixture of the two species results in a strong visual corridor and canopy. Of some aesthetic merit. Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) specimen: located in the western corner of Osmond Garden. Of some historical and botanical merit. Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) specimen: located in the north-western portion of Osmond Gardens near the South Terrace frontage a mature and healthy specimen of an Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) planted in the 1930s. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Ann Millhouse Malus spp.: a specimen of a Malus spp planted for Mrs Ann Millhouse AM ( ) for her services to the Girl Guide Association, on 21 February 1993, and located to the immediate east of the entrance to the Himeji Garden. Of some social merit. WITA WIRRA : 759

4 River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (1): located in the western middle flank of Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic merit. River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (2): located to the immediate north of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic merit. Canary Island Palm (Phoenix canariensis) specimen: located external to the southeast corner of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic and historical merit. Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (1): located to the south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic, historical and botanical merit. Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) specimen: a healthy specimen of a Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) tree located within Osmond Gardens. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen: a good healthy specimen, located in the centre of Osmond Garden. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Fan Palm (Licuala ramsayi) specimen (3): located to the south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic, historical and botanical merit. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen (1): located to the south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. WITA WIRRA : 760

5 Norfolk Island Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonii) specimen: located south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some historical merit. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen (2): located to the south-west of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some botanical, historical and aesthetic merit. Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidium) specimen: a tree located to the south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some botanical merit. River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (3): a large specimen, located to the southern-most corner of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic merit. Golden Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa Aurea ) specimens: four small highly pruned and shaped specimens of Golden Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa Aurea ) located in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic merit. Irish Strawberry (Arbutus unedo) specimen: located to the south of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some botanical and historical merit. Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) specimen: a large specimen, located on the central Hutt Street frontage. Of some aesthetic merit. Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) specimen: a large specimen, located on the northern Hutt Street frontage. Of some aesthetic merit. WITA WIRRA : 761

6 River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) grove: a grove of 6 specimens, on the corner of South Terrace and Hutt Street stretching westwards. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Himeji Garden plant assemblage: collection of groundcovers, lower-storey, middlestorey and upper-storey trees, flowering shrubs, grasses that possess Japanese origins and botanical associations as used in the Himeji Garden design. Of some aesthetic, social and botanical merit. Creek Lilly-pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) specimen: located in the north-western corner of Osmond Garden, a mature specimen of a Creek Lilly-pilly or Brush Cherry. Of some aesthetic merit. Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (2): located to the north-west-west corner of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic, historical and botanical merit. Muriel Howard Memorial Tree: an unidentified species with presentation plaque by Muriel Howard to the Corporation in very very poor condition. Of some social merit. Jean Wood English Elm (Ulmus procera) specimen: an English Elm (Ulmus procera) specimen planted within the South Terrace line of street trees by Miss Jean Wood, State Commissioner of Girl Guides, on 12 November 1965, and located opposite Girl Guide House at No 278 South Terrace. Of some aesthetic and social merit. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) specimen: located in the southern corner of Wita wirra/park 18 of some 100 years of age. Of some botanical merit. Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (3): located to the north-east corner of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some aesthetic, historical and botanical merit. WITA WIRRA : 762

7 Garden, it consists of an integrated design that is visually a separate space within the larger park land block. Of some historical, social, design and aesthetic merit. Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen (3): located to the west-west of Himeji Garden in Osmond Garden. Of some botanical, historical and aesthetic merit. Three White Poplar (Populus alba) specimens: located on the northern flank of Osmond Garden, a White Poplar (Populus alba) feature crowning a pedestrian route lacking one specimen of a four-square planting. Of some aesthetic merit. Structures There is one minor recreation service structures in Wita Wirra/Park 18 as follows: Wita Wirra/Park 18 Sporting Pavilion: located to the eastern flank of the Park. Constructed of brick and galvanised iron flat roofing. Of some social merit. Small Scale Elements There are several elements present or remaining in Wita Wirra/Park 18 that have merit. Spatial Arrangements There are only two main precincts: Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (1): a bronze plaque in English located to the left of the entry pathway to the Himeji Garden. Of some historical merit. Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (2): a bronze plaque in Japanese located to the left of the entry pathway to the Himeji Garden. Of some historical merit. Osmond Garden (J&E: L.B3): the Garden expanse that represents a small but highly aesthetic garden laid out to a design and planting strategy by Pelzer. While it contains a diversity of trees and plants, and its original pathway structure has been progressively removed, it still hold much is its original qualities and design intent. Himeji Garden was excised from the Garden but without overly compromising the larger design. Still contains much of its original circulation system, 1907 rockery, foundational tree plantings including palms. Of some historical, design and aesthetic merit. Himeji Garden: a Garden within Osmond Garden that represents an important example of a contemporary Japanese garden design. Excised in part from Osmond WITA WIRRA : 763

8 Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (3): a bronze plaque in English and Japanese unveiled by Lord Mayor Mrs Wendy Chapman on 3 April 1988 to the immediate right of the entrance to the Himeji Garden. Of some historical merit. Adelaide/Himeji Garden Sign: a green painted timber sign located on the South Terrace frontage to the Himeji Garden. Of some historical merit. 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Muriel Howard Memorial Plaque: a bronze plaque beneath a tree of an unidentified species within Osmond Garden. Of some social merit. Jean Wood Memorial Plaque: a bronze plaque beneath an English Elm (Ulmus procera) specimen located opposite No 278 South Terrace. Of some social merit. Osmond Garden Pergola Shelter: a cupola-like open structure of treated pine construction, possibly on the site of the original timber rusticated structure erected on the site in Carries a vine (Vitis vinifera). Of some social merit. Himeji Garden Building Structures: various structures including, fountains, shelters and gates. Of some historical and design merit. Anthony Finn Memorial Seat: a bras plaque on a period seat located within Osmond Garden in memory of Anthony Finn, 7 December December 2005, cherished mate, dedicated gardener. Of some social merit. Wita Wirra/Park 18 Bore: infrastructure associated with a bore in Wita Wirra/Park 18. Of some engineering merit. Wita Wirra/Park 18 Footbridge (1): a steel and timber footbridge over the watercourse. Of some engineering merit. Wita Wirra/Park 18 Footbridge (2): a steel and timber footbridge laid on top of a concrete pipe on the watercourse. Of some engineering merit. Hutt Street Tram Shelter: a green-painted timber tram shelter with galvanised miniorb gabled roofing near the corner of South Terrace. A lovely architectural feature on the Hutt Street roadscape, possessing 1920s architectural stylistic traits. Perhaps the last of its type left in the Adelaide Park Lands and streetscapes. Of some design and aesthetic merit. WITA WIRRA : 764

9 Soccer Memorial Plaque & Stone: a bronze plaque on a Carey Gully sandstone rock, located on the Hutt Street flank of Wita Wirra/Park 18, commemorating the first organised soccer game played under the South Australian British Football Association on 25 April Of some social merit. 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Historical Views and Aesthetic Qualities While Wita Wirra/Park 18 is relatively flat if possesses some aesthetic merit, as follows: Green Painted Container: a former shipping container re-used as a Gardeners shed to the south-eastern corner of the exterior of Himeji garden. Unsightly feature hidden with a tangle of creepers, pergolas and fencing. Of some social merit. Timber Pergola: a treated pine timber pergola structure attached to the above green painted container being used a device to visually obscure the presence of the container. Of some aesthetic merit. Glen Osmond Road Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) Avenue and Corridor: a prominent visual entrance corridor, with enclosed views towards the city and towards the Adelaide Hills south-eastern escarpment. Of some aesthetic merit. Rob Buxton Memorial Seat: a brass plaque on a period seat located within Osmond Garden presented in memoriam to Rob Buxton from staff at Bridgestone Australia Ltd. Of some social merit. Mrs Ann Millhouse Plaque: a plaque beneath a Malus ssp recorded the services of Mrs Ann Millhouse ( ) AM to the Girl Guides Association, planted on 21 February Of some social merit. Cultural Landscape Heritage Significance Evaluation The following table summarises the cultural landscape heritage components present in Wita wirra/park 18. A separate assessment, in the Main Report, positions Wita Wirra/Park 18 s cultural landscape in the context of the wider Adelaide Park Land. WITA WIRRA : 765

10 Recommended: Preparation of a Conservation Study Proposed: National Trust of South Australia / Significant Tree Register Recommended: Adelaide City Development Plan (g) it has a special association with the life or work of a person or organisation or an event of historical importance (f) it has strong cultural or spiritual associations for the community or a group within it. (e) it demonstrates a high degree of creative, aesthetic or technical accomplishment or is an outstanding representative of particular construction techniques or (d) it is an outstanding representative of a particular class of places of cultural significance (c) it may yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the State s history, including its natural history (b) it has rare, uncommon or endangered qualities that are of cultural significance (a) it demonstrates important aspects of the evolution or pattern of the State s history Recommended: State Heritage Register Recommended: Register of the National Estate Vulnerable Low Significance Medium Significance High Significance Existing: National Trust of South Australia / Significant Tree Register Existing: Adelaide City Development Plan Existing: State Heritage Register Existing: Register of the National Estate Wita Wirra/Park 18 Item / Component / Place Wita Wirra/Park 18 generally M Y - - South Park Lands Creek L Golden Privet (Ligustrum ovalifoilium Aureum ) hedge M - V Y - - Glen Osmond Road Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) Avenue M Y Y - Golden Privet (Ligustrum ovalifoilium Aureum ) hedge M - V Y - - South Terrace Street Tree Plantation M Y - - Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) specimen M Y - - Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus) specimen L Palm ssp specimen M Y - - Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) specimen L Ann Millhouse Malus ssp L River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (1) L River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (2) L Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) specimen L Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen M Y Y - Canary Island Palm (Phoenix canariensis) specimen M Y - - Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (1) M Y - - Fan Palm (Liguala ramsayi) specimen (3) M Y - - Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen (1) M Y - - Norfolk Island Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonii) specimen L Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen (2) M Y - - Golden Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa Aurea ) specimens M Y - - Irish Strawberry (Arbutus unedo) specimen M Y Y - Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidium) specimen River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) specimen (3) M Y Y - Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis) specimen L Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) specimen L River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) grove L Himeli Garden plant assemblage M Y - - Muriel Howard Memorial Tree L Jean Wood English Elm (Ulmus procera) specimen L Lilly-pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) specimen L Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (2) M Y - - Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) specimen L Chilean Wine Palm (Jubea chilensis) specimen (3) M Y - - Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) specimen M Y - - Three White Poplar (Populus alba) specimens L WITA WIRRA : 766

11 Osmond Garden M Y - - Himeji Garden M Y - - Wita Wirra/Park 18 Sporting Pavilion L Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (1) L Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (2) L Himeji Garden Opening Plaque (3) L Adelaide/Himeji Garden Sign L Osmond Garden Pergola Structure L Himeji Garden Building Structures M Y - - Wita Wirra/Park 18 Footbridge (1) L Wita Wirra/Park 18 Footbridge (2) L Muriel Howard Memorial Plaque L Jean Wood Memorial Plaque L Anthony Finn Memorial Seat L Wita Wirra/Park 18 Bore L Hutt Street Tram Shelter H - - V - Y - Y - Y Y - - Soccer Memorial Plaque & Stone L Green Painted Container L Timber Pergola L Rob Buxton Memorial Seat L Mrs Ann Millhouse Plaque L Glen Osmond Road Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) Avenue M Y Y - Statement of Cultural Significance Wita Wirra/Park 18 represents an integral segment of the overall Adelaide Park Lands that possesses associative cultural significance in reflecting the spatial and planting design intent and philosophies of John Ednie Brown and August Pelzer, and hosts several contemporary facilities that have partially compromised the original intent but provide additional cultural and social significance to the place. Wita Wirra/Park 18 hosts important pathway and perimeter woodland elements proposed in the Report (1880), and hosts an important exemplar of Pelzer s Gardenesque garden design style as expressed in Osmond Garden. It is also contains an important representative of classic Japanese Garden design principles and styles in Himeji Garden, and the only one of its type in South Australia. Recommendations: Reinforce and conserve the planted perimeters of Wita Wirra/Park 18 and continue a planting program using a mixture of predominately Australian species and the species listed in Brown s Report (1880); Reinforce native plantings along the watercourse and in the south-eastern corner of Wita Wirra/Park 18; Consider the future removal of White Poplars (Populus alba) along all watercourses in the and their replacement with more appropriate native species of species as proposed by Brown in his Report (1880); Revise City of Adelaide Development Plan citations pertaining to PL11 to reflect the above conclusions and recommendations; Prepare a Landscape Master Plan for Osmond Garden that addresses the historical patterns of extant tree plantings and species, renovates the rockery forms, and gives effect to the PL11 policy recommendations and continues the design and plant species philosophy devised by Pelzer; Consider removing the Gardeners shed/container. Remove the presence of all stobie poles and overhead wires from Wita Wirra/Park 18; Propose a suitable Kaurna toponym for the South Park Lands Creek or watercourse to formally recognise its existence and probably associations to the Kaurna community presettlement; Conserve existing vistas from the interior of Wita Wirra/Park to the city and the eastern escarpment of the Adelaide Hills; Ensure quality of maintenance levels at Himeji Garden; Prepare suitable nominations for the National Trust s Significant tree register as proposed above; Prepare suitable nominations for the State Heritage Register as proposed above. WITA WIRRA : 767