4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park Assessment

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1 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park Assessment MULLAWIRRABURKA: 712

2 Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park Existing Planning / Development Plan Context No component in Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park is identified in the State Heritage Register. Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park exists within the Rundle & Rymill Parks Precinct PL8 of the City of Adelaide Development Plan (pp ). Its Environment is described as: ENVIRONMENT Planting Character and Landscape Design The Precinct has the character of an English park land with a mix of exotic and Australian native plantings, lawns and garden beds. This character should be maintained and strengthened Permanent Structures The expansion of the Adelaide Bowling Club beyond its existing boundaries is inappropriate. No development of additional buildings or additional car parks should be permitted. The expansion or replacement of buildings should be restricted. Temporary stands and facilities should be permitted in association with the Grand Prix where they will not result in permanent damage to the park surfaces or character. Areas of Significant Landscape Character The significant avenue of Plane trees and significant individual trees in Park No 14, and the avenue of White Cedar trees in Park No. 13 should be retained and maintained by replacement plantings of the same species when required to maintain the environmental character of those parts of the Precinct. 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 tree plantings in the late 1870s and 1880s. From fencing in the late 1870s the Park assumed the role and function of a semi-formal garden, and this function has remained today. There is no significance evident in terms of its use and function. Natural Features Responsiveness Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park focuses upon the Botanic Creek watercourse as a central feature. Key natural features are: Botanic Creek Watercourse: the predominant water system feature of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park largely supplanted by the presence of Rymill Lake. Of some aesthetic merit. Rymill Lake: the central physical and aesthetic feature of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park, with its central island and foot bridges. Of some aesthetic and social merit. Former Tramline Embankment: a prominent landscape feature somewhat disguised in mature tree and shrub plantings, originally used to transfer horse-drawn and then electrified trams from Grenfell Street to Rundle Street in Kent Town, exploited as retaining wall to create the Lake, and remaining today as a strong physical feature of the central portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. Of some aesthetic and historic merit. No component of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park 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 Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park generally retains its original shape and form as devised by Light. It has evidence of substantial tree planting that was undertaken during the Pengilly and Pelzer administrations that reinforces a semi-formal Victorian Gardenesque style. Two cross-axial pathways, lined with Oriental Planes (Platanus orientalis) and White Cedars (Melia azedarach var australisca) dissect Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park that historically, since the 1870s, always has been evident in Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. Both constitute an important aesthetic and design elements in Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. In the 1950s-60s Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park was transformed to accommodate a lake, picnic and recreation grounds, and a large rose garden resulting in much of the present character and planting strategy. Road alignment changes in the 1960s resulted in the south-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park being excised as a separate garden portion with little logical connection to either Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park itself or the adjacent city landscape. Circulation Networks Prior to Brown s Report (1880) there is little evidence of any circulation system on Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. However it is very clear that a pedestrian path, planted with White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca), had already been established running from the south-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park to the intersection of Dequetteville Terrace and Rundle Street East, with a minor allèe running from the north-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park into the centre of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. Brown and Pelzer sought to retain these pathways and to add a secondary pathway allèe to Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park with the planting of the Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) allèe from the centre of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park to its southeastern corner. These pathways, with their tree plantings, contribute to the significance of the overall character of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park. The main circulation routes are: White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) allèe (1): an elderly White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) tree pedestrian avenue running from the south-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park to the Dequetteville Terrace Rundle Street East intersection. Of some aesthetic, botanical and historic merit. MULLAWIRRABURKA: 713

3 White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) allèe (2): an elderly White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) pedestrian avenue running from the north-western corner of the Park into the Lake precinct. Of some aesthetic, botanical and historic merit. 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) allèe: an elderly Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) pedestrian avenue running from the south-eastern corner of the Park into the Lake precinct. Of some aesthetic merit. English Elm (Ulmus procera) Streetscape: the elderly English Elm (Ulmus procera) street tree plantings in the western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some aesthetic merit. Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) allèe: the elderly Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) tree avenue running from the south-eastern corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 into the Rymill Lake precinct. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen (J&E T.A18): located on the corner of Rundle Road and Dequetteville Terrace. Of some aesthetic and botanical merit. Boundary Demarcations No evidence is present of past demarcation devices and fencing apart from the fundamental road boundaries and gravel edge pathways that are evident. Conybeare s Cypress (Cupressus conybearii) specimen (J&E T.A19): located adjacent to the vehicular entrance from Bartel s Road, in the central southern flank of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some aesthetic and botanical merit. Lemon-scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora) specimen (J&E T.A17): located adjacent to East Terrace within a dense cluster of mature trees. Of some botanical merit. Vegetation There are several vegetation elements in Mullawirraburka/Park 14 that possess cultural heritage merit: White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) allèe (1): the elderly White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) tree avenue running from the south-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 to the Dequetteville Terrace Rundle Street East intersection. Of some aesthetic, historic and botanical merit. White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) allèe (2): the elderly White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australisca) tree avenue running from the north-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 into the Rymill Lake precinct. Of some aesthetic, historic and botanical merit. MULLAWIRRABURKA: 714

4 English Elm (Ulmus procera) Street Trees: the original English Elm (Ulmus procera) street tree plantings located in the western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some aesthetic and botanical merit. Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) specimen: located in the south-eastern corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some botanical merit. Structures Several structures are present: Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen: a lovely large specimen of a Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) located in the south-western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 and a prominent feature on the curve of Hutt Street. Of some botanical and aesthetic merit. Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) specimen: an interesting contorted elderly specimen of an Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) located in the south-western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some botanical merit. Adelaide Bowling Club Clubhouse: single storey cream brick structure, erected in Of some design merit. Carey Gully Stone-Faced Kiosk (Rymill Lake): located by the Lake, erected in , and opened in Of some design and aesthetic merit. Carey Gully Stone-Faced (North-East) Toilets: located to the north-east of the Lake, and opened in Of some design and aesthetic merit. Spatial Arrangements Several components are present: Adelaide Bowling Club Greens: a suite of bowling greens associated with the Adelaide Bowling Club as developed in Of some aesthetic and social merit. Adelaide Bowling Club Car Park: a bitumen expanse located to the east of the bowling club complex, constructed in to service the Club membership. Of some aesthetic and social merit. Small Scale Elements There are several small-scale components present or remaining in Mullawirraburka/Park 14 that have merit. These include: MULLAWIRRABURKA: 715

5 Low Carey Gully Stone Walling: constructed in a circular form in the south-eastern corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 in the 1960s. Of some design and aesthetic merit. Rose Garden Jarrah Pergola: a series of jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) structures associated with the Rose Garden, erected in Of some aesthetic merit. 4.0 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF COMPONENTS Piccanniny Statue: a natural concrete statue faced wit ceramics, with bronze water container, on a white granite plinth, cast by artist John Dowie, including a drinking fountain feature, unveiled October Of some aesthetic, design and social merit. Rymill Park Playground: located to the north-east of Rymill Lake, established in , that was extensively renovated in the 1990s. Of some social merit. Rose Garden Opening Bronze Plaque: a plaque affixed to a small Carey Gully stone cairn, unveiled in Of some social merit. Rose Garden White Granite Sundial: a sundial with bronze plaque affixed unveiled in c Of some design and social merit. Alice in Wonderland Statue: a bronze statue, cast by artist John Dowie, featuring Alice in Wonderland, with a Waikerie stone pedestal, unveiled in Of some aesthetic, design and social merit. Rymill Lake Island: a feature island in the centre of Rymill Lake including concrete block feature paving with Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) mass planting. Of some aesthetic, design and social merit. Polychrome Brick Entrance Gates: the official entrance gate pillars with wrought iron gate fencing to the Adelaide Bowling Club. Of some design and aesthetic merit. Rymill Park Opening Plaque & Stone: a bronze plaque affixed to a white granite boulder, unveiled in Of some aesthetic and social merit. MULLAWIRRABURKA: 716

6 Rymill Lake Island Footbridges: two arch footbridges erected in 1999 to a design by Grieve Gillett Architects. Of some design, aesthetic and social merit. Bridgland Fountain: a circular concrete fountain with feature stone pebbles surrounding with fountain components imported from Italy but basin designed and constructed locally. Fountain unveiled on 19 December 1966 by and in honour of Lord Mayor Walter L Bridgland, and located in the south-western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some social merit. Bridgland Fountain Opening Plaque: a bronze plaque on concrete plinth associated with the opening of the Bridgland Fountain on 19 December 1966, and located in the south-western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some social merit. Historical Views and Aesthetic Qualities Several important views are present: Catholic Community First Mass Memorial: a memorial located in the south-western corner of Mullawirraburka/Park 14. Of some social and historical merit. Brown Brick Barbeques: a series of brown clinker brick barbeques located around Rymill Lake often in a semi-circle design configuration. Of some aesthetic, design and social merit. Rundle Road East Vista: a view from Rundle Road eastwards to the former Kent Town Brewery complex with the Adelaide Hills as backdrop; a significant departure vista with a significant landmark feature as a visual termination feature. Of some social and aesthetic merit. Rymill Lake Overlook: a view over and within the Lake physical catchment. Of some aesthetic, social and design merit. MULLAWIRRABURKA: 717

7 Cultural Landscape Heritage Significance Evaluation The following table summarises the cultural landscape heritage components present in Mullawirraburka/Park 14. A separate assessment, in the Main Report, positions Mullawirraburka/Park 14 s cultural landscape in the context of the wider Adelaide Park Land. Dequetteville East Vista: a view along Dequetteville Terrace east towards the Brittania Hotel and the Adelaide Hills backdrop. Of some aesthetic merit. Pirie Street East Vista: a narrow controlled vista of the Adelaide Hills escarpment along Pirie Street that opens up near the Hutt Street intersection affording a wider vista of the escarpment beyond with the foreground and middle-ground dipping into the Botanic Creek watercourse catchment. Of some aesthetic merit. 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 (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 Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park Item / Component / Place Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park generally M Y - - Botanic Creek Watercourse M Y - - Rymill Lake M Y - - Former Tramline Embankment M Y - - White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australascia) alleé (1) M - V Y Y - White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australascia) alleé (2) M - V Y Y - Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) alleé L English Elm (Ulmus procera) Streetscape L White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australascia) alleé (1) M - V Y Y - White Cedar (Melia azedarach var australascia) alleé (2) M - V Y Y - Oriental Plane (Platanus orientalis) alleé Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen M Y Y - Conybeare s Cypress (Cupressus conybearii) specimen M - V Y Y Lemon-scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora) specimen M Y Y - MULLAWIRRABURKA: 718

8 English Elm (Ulmus procera) Street Trees L V Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla) specimen M Y - - Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) specimen M Y - - Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica) specimen L Adelaide Bowling Club Greens L Adelaide Bowling Club Car Park L Adelaide Bowling Club Clubhouse L Carey Gully Stone-Faced Kiosk (Rymill Lake) M Y - - Carey Gully Stone-Faced (North East) Toilets L Low Carey Gully Stone Walling L Rose Garden Jarrah Pergola L Rose Garden White Granite Sundial M Y - - Polychrome Brick Entrance Gates L Rymill Park Opening Plaque and Stone M Y - - Piccanniny Statue M - V Y - - Rymill Park Playground L Alice in Wonderland Statue M Y - - Rymill Lake Island Footbridges M Y - - Bridgland Fountain M Y - - Catholic Community First Mass Memorial M Y - - Brown Brick Barbeques L Bridgland Fountain Opening Plaque L Rundle Road East Vista L Rymill Lake Overlook M - V Y - - Dequetteville Terrace East Vista L Pirie Street East Vista M Y - - Statement of Cultural Significance Mullawirraburka/Park 14/Rymill Park is a significant example of the re-crafting of the Adelaide Park Lands by William Pengilly and August Pelzer from an informal mixed species landscape into a semi-formal Gardenesque park characterised by tree-lined axial pedestrian pathways and feature memorials. More importantly, it is one of two major park facilities created in the 1950s- 60s under Town Clerk Veale to serve as major recreational venue for Adelaideans. It still retains much of this 1870s-1930s structure and character although it was significantly renovated in the 1950s-60s to create a major park landscape with a feature lake. Recommendations: Prepare a landscape master plan for the East Park Lands (Kadlitpinna/Park 13, Mullawirraburka/Park 14, Ityamaiitpinna/Park 15) that manages the portions as an integrated designed landscape, seeks to maintain the general aesthetic character, tree planting approach, pathway configurations, and atmosphere as an integrated whole but enables passive and intensive recreational activities to continue; Remove presence of all stobie poles and overhead wires from Mullawirraburka/Park 14; Consider the future of the Adelaide Bowling Club facilities, and its re-incorporation back into Mullawirraburka/Park 14 should the Club relinquish its tenancy; Conserve the former Tramline Embankment as a feature; Minimise any changes to Rymill Lake and Island articulation, edge treatment, and paving to ensure an aesthetic integrity. Renovate the western portion of Mullawirraburka/Park 14 with the intention of conserving existing significant tree allèes but crafting the tract of landscape as an identifiably separate park to Mullawirraburka/Park 14; Ensure that dominate single species street tree plantings continue around all four edges of Mullawirraburka/Park 14; Revise City of Adelaide Development Plan citations pertaining to PL8 to reflect the above conclusions and recommendations; Prepare a nomination to the National Trust of South Australia Significant Tree Register for trees noted. MULLAWIRRABURKA: 719