|
Major Period Of Development 1890-1920 |
|
|||
|
While improvements were being made to the areas surrounding the lake, the lake itself became the subject of some controversy. Due to increasing settlement in the area, large quantities of effluent were entering the lake and settling behind the weir wall and it was described in the Gazette as a 'fever bed' and 'stink pot'. The Department of Health had ordered the Council to let the water off and Council undertook to deepen the lake and by arrangement with the Water Supply Department, obtain water from Yan Yean and other reservoirs, enabling all water from streets, houses and stormwater to be excluded. In November, 1890 the Gazette reported that "The ground where now the Moonee Ponds club plays cricket, since 1886, is to be cut up and subdivided into a bowling green and tennis court. A new commodious cricket ground is in the course of construction at the south end". In deepening the lake, good quality building sand was excavated and sold, realising some 2000 pound which was used to fund further park improvements. By 1897, the lake was still not finished and was described in the Essendon Gazette, 13th May, 1897 as a mudhole, "The only blot on the face of scenic beauty". It was proposed by Councillor Cowan to start a fund to finish the lake in celebration of the Queen's Jubilee and to rename the Park in her honour. Finally in June, 1898 the taps were turned on and the lake was filled with water from Yan Yean reservoir. In 1896, a cycle track was constructed around the cricket ground which necessitated the removal of several large fir trees. The Gazette reported on August 6th, 1896 that "Sport has no right to ruthlessly destroy our finest public pleasure ground". An English rider however, described it as "the best he had seen in the colony", ( Essendon Gazette, 12th Dec, 1896). In June 1903, the town surveyor and the curator were instructed to prepare and submit for the consideration of the council, a plan and scheme for including and utilising as part of Queens Park, the unmade portion of Mt Alexander Road between The Strand, St Thomas Street (now Kellaway Avenue), the park fence and the western boundary of the existing median strip. This was proposed with a view to minimising the dust nuisance and improving the park. The Department of Lands and Survey consented to this proposal in 1904 but fortunately it was never implemented and by 1915 the council's Town Clerk informed the Department of Lands and Survey that they were no longer in favour of this proposal. In 1903, the Essendon Police Station was removed from the corner of Mt. Alexander Road and The Strand and the land was incorporated into the park. By the early 1900's Queens Park was described as the "lung of the people" and "a monument to the forethought of Councillors and ratepayers" in an article entitled "Queens Park - Home of the Swans" ( McJunkin, 1906). This article highlighted the major features of the park at this time. It describes the lake and islands "bristling with beautiful palms, bamboos, clumps of pampas grass, flax and silver wattle" upon which "a bewildering assortment of birds make their home, happily out of the reach of the vandal".
Reference: Kerley, P, 1988, Queen's Park Redevelopment Study, City of Essendon |
|
|||
