Explore the rich history of Ballarat East by visiting Barkly Square in Barkly Street.

The Gardens were established in 1864 and were of horticultural excellence. Throngs of people flocked to see the seasonal varieties of plants provided by the renowned curators Daniel Laidlaw and John Edwards. In those days, there was no lawn, just a vast array of rare, valuable trees and shrubs with delightful colours. The Gardens were considered an “Oasis in the Desert”. Despite the deterioration, remnants of the old Gardens remain. Fortunately, there are a dedicated group of volunteers who are working hard to revive them. You might consider volunteering!

Take a stroll through the Gardens and you will see the wrought iron fence (1881), the entrance gates (1900) (Note: the Eastern sign wasn’t part of the original gates, it was added after the amalgamation in 1921), the Infant Welfare Centre (1938), two Spanish fir trees planted by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 1901. Also, rock walls and terraces were built by sustenance labour during the Depression years (1930s).

There is so much more to explore, such as the first Free Public Library next door (now known as BRMC). The Barkly Square Café can serve you excellent coffee and delicious pastries and sandwiches.