Cook Park

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Following agitation from [[John Templer]] the site of Cook Park was purchased and reserved for public recreation in 1873. Named after Captain James Cook it was a wilderness until 1888 when it was planned out with ordered lawns, colourful flowerbeds, gravel walkways and a conservatory. In 1912 the ''Orange Leader'' reported that originally a bell was rung at 7pm as a signal for everyone to leave the park. When closing was extended to 9pm considerable mischief was being wrought and there was ‘great difficulty in clearing people out of the park … one pair would not go’!
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Following agitation from [[John Templer]] the site of Cook Park was purchased and reserved for public recreation in 1873. Named after Captain [[James Cook]] it was laid out by 1885, but was not much frequented.  It lay in its wilderness state of grasses and weeds until 1888 when it was laid out with ordered lawns, colourful flowerbeds; gravel walkways and a conservatory filled with choice plants.It is said that [[Alfred Paterson]] was caretaker of Cook Park until he was pilfered by a deputation from Bathurst Council, resigning in April 1890. During his time as caretaker a lake was excavated.
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Cook Park was laid out by 1885, but was not much frequented.  It lay in its wilderness state of grasses and weeds until 1888 when it was laid out with ordered lawns, colourful flowerbeds; gravel walkways and a conservatory filled with choice plants.
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The following year the fountain was donated by [[James Dalton]].  Two rustic pavilions were built and garden seats were installed as a gift to the townspeople. Cook Park has long been known as one of the popular parks of Orange, where residents and visitors relax, have birthday parties or family outings. The [[Town Band Committee]] decided to build a band stand in Cook Park and was opened in 1908 in the presence of 1500 people..
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It is said that Alfred Paterson was caretaker of Cook Park until he was pilfered by a deputation from Bathurst Council, resigning in April 1890.  During his time as caretaker a laket was excavated.
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In 1912 the ''Orange Leader'' reported that originally a bell was rung at 7pm as a signal for everyone to leave the park. When closing was extended to 9pm considerable mischief was being wrought and there was ‘great difficulty in clearing people out of the park … one pair would not go’!
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The following year the fountain was donated by James Dalton.  Two rustic pavilions were built and garden seats were installed as a gift to the townspeople. 
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In 1927 the ornate entrance gates at Robertson Park were moved to Cook Park and installed at the corner of [[Summer Street]] and [[Sampson Street]]. By 1928 there were 'wire netted runs, in which run kangaroos, emus and a stately brolga' and in the 1930s an aviary was added.  
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Cook Park has long been known as one of the popular parks of Orange, where residents and visitors relax, have birthday parties or family outings. The Town Band Committee decided to build a band stand in Cook Park and was opened in 1908.
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W C Curran, a local storekeeper, claimed to have been the first in town to cultivate begonias and Mayor A Blowes, becoming interested in them, instigated the building of the Begonia House in c1933.
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[[W C Curran]], a local storekeeper, claimed to have been the first in town to cultivate begonias and Mayor [[A W Blowes]], becoming interested in them, instigated the building of the Begonia House in c1933. In 1938 both the Mullholland Memorial Garden, named after [[Frank J Mullholland]], and the fernery and sunken garden (which replaced the small lake) were dedicated.
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A team of trained gardeners keeps the lawns well trimmed and the flower pots replenished with plants that bring forth their masses of colourful seasonal blooms.
 
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In 1908 the [[Town Band Committee]] built a band stand in Cook Park which was opened in the presence of 1500 people. [[W C Curran]], a local storekeeper, claimed to have been the first in town to cultivate begonias and Mayor [[A W Blowes]] instigated the building of the Begonia House in 1933.
 
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Alfred Andrew Patterson (c1857-1932) was born in Drottningholm, Sweden, and following study at Upsala University lectured at Hamburg University.  His field of study is not know, but it seems reasonable to assume either surveying or botany.  He then worked in England before migrating to Tasmania, where he was employed during the 1880s as a surveyor on the Mount Bischoff railway.  Following botanical research in Queensland, he was engaged as a surveyor / engineer for the Nyngan Byrock railway in New South Wales.  Whilst here he enlisted for the Sudan War (1885), but en route to Sydney was taken from the train suffering typhoid fever.  He was subsequently employed by James Dalton, MLA for orange, owner of the large properties Kangaroobie and Duntryleague.
 
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When Cook Park, was opened in 1887, through Dalton’s influence Patterson gained the position of inaugural head gardener.  In early 1890 a deputation from local worthies from Bathurst visited Orange – ostensibly to examine the gravitational water supply scheme.  At Cook Park they met Patterson, mentioning that Bathurst Council was seeking a head gardener to lay out the new Machattie Park and that a competition  was being held to find a design for the park.  Patterson decided to offer a design, and later application for the position of head gardener. He was appointed as head gardener of Bathurst’s Machattie Park in April 1890.
 
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Minutes of the special meeting of Council 10 April 1890, that Mr A Patteron on 3rd April 1890 resigned from his position as caretaker of Cook Park.  Alderman Tanner moved that Mr Patterson’s resignation be accepted.
 
* Miller, J., Holmes, D., and Honey, A. (2001) ''Orange a vision splendid''. Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
* Miller, J., Holmes, D., and Honey, A. (2001) ''Orange a vision splendid''. Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
* ''Orange Blossoms'' (2009 ) Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
* ''Orange Blossoms'' (2009 ) Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
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[[Category:Parks and Gardens|Cook Park]]
[[Category:Parks and Gardens|Cook Park]]

Revision as of 02:48, 24 May 2010

Following agitation from John Templer the site of Cook Park was purchased and reserved for public recreation in 1873. Named after Captain James Cook it was laid out by 1885, but was not much frequented. It lay in its wilderness state of grasses and weeds until 1888 when it was laid out with ordered lawns, colourful flowerbeds; gravel walkways and a conservatory filled with choice plants.It is said that Alfred Paterson was caretaker of Cook Park until he was pilfered by a deputation from Bathurst Council, resigning in April 1890. During his time as caretaker a lake was excavated.

The following year the fountain was donated by James Dalton. Two rustic pavilions were built and garden seats were installed as a gift to the townspeople. Cook Park has long been known as one of the popular parks of Orange, where residents and visitors relax, have birthday parties or family outings. The Town Band Committee decided to build a band stand in Cook Park and was opened in 1908 in the presence of 1500 people..

In 1912 the Orange Leader reported that originally a bell was rung at 7pm as a signal for everyone to leave the park. When closing was extended to 9pm considerable mischief was being wrought and there was ‘great difficulty in clearing people out of the park … one pair would not go’!

In 1927 the ornate entrance gates at Robertson Park were moved to Cook Park and installed at the corner of Summer Street and Sampson Street. By 1928 there were 'wire netted runs, in which run kangaroos, emus and a stately brolga' and in the 1930s an aviary was added.

W C Curran, a local storekeeper, claimed to have been the first in town to cultivate begonias and Mayor A W Blowes, becoming interested in them, instigated the building of the Begonia House in c1933. In 1938 both the Mullholland Memorial Garden, named after Frank J Mullholland, and the fernery and sunken garden (which replaced the small lake) were dedicated.


  • Miller, J., Holmes, D., and Honey, A. (2001) Orange a vision splendid. Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
  • Orange Blossoms (2009 ) Orange City Council, Orange NSW.
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