Garden Palace plaque
Public Art: Garden Palace plaque
Description: The bronze plaque is inset into a bricked section of the path and features a line drawing of the Garden Palace.
Date Unveiled: 16th of September 1979
Location: The plaque is located on a path between Macquarie Street & Shakespeare Place, along Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Australia.
History of the Garden Palace: It is hard to believe when walking through the wrought iron gates to the Royal Botanical Gardens that one of the grandest buildings in Australia, once stood on these grounds. Built on the hill which was originally used as a run for the governor’s livestock, the Garden Palace stood proudly along Macquarie Street, above the city. The structure stood as a symbol of Sydney and the Colonies emerging growth and maturity as a nation.
The Palace was designed by one of Sydney’s most prominent architects, James Barnet (of Sydney GPO Fame) for the Sydney International Exhibitions of 1879-1880. The exhibition ran for a little over six months with over 1.1 million people walking through the gates. A grand feat considering the population of New South Wales was 741,142 and Australia about 2.2 million.
In the early hours of 22nd September 1883, the Palace’s night watchman noticed smoke rising from an area beneath the central dome. He went to investigate by opening a door (presumably creating a backdraft) . Before anything could be done a flame burst from the basement and engulfed the building. Within minutes the grand Garden Palace was a smoldering ruin. The Palace framework, which was mainly timber, contributed to the speed in which the fire spread. The news spread just as fast as the fire and soon a large crowd had gathered by the gates, looking on in disbelief at where the palace once stood.
Inscription:
The Garden Palace
This plaque was unveiled on the 16th of September 1979 by
His Excellency the Governor of New South Wales
Sir Roden Cutler V.C., K.C.M.G., C.B.E
To commemorate the centenary of the opening of
SYDNEY”S FIRST INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
on the 17th of September 1879
This is the site of the central dome of the Garden Palace
which housed the exhibition.
It was 244 metres long stretching from
the Conservatorium of Music to the State Library;
The dome was 30 metres in diameter and 64 metres high.
The building was destroyed by fire in 1882.
The Hon. Neville Wran O.C., M.P.
Premier of New South Wales
C.Gleeson Chairman Royal Botanic Gardens Trust
L.A.S. Johnston Director Royal Botanic Gardens