Saturday, April 10, 2021

Carlo Catani and Wattle trees

The wattle tree grows prolifically on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. Even 130 years after the Swamp was drained in accordance with plans drawn up by William Thwaites, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department and later plans developed by Carlo Catani, the black wattle (Acacia mearnsii) still sprouts up anytime and anywhere. It flowers from late July to mid August and is just spectacular. Carlo Catani had a love of wattles; did this love develop from his many trips to the Koo Wee Rup Swamp and seeing the wattles in bloom?  I would like to think so. This is a post celebrating Carlo's fondness of the  wattle. 

This is the Main Drain of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, the drain which was part of William Thwaites' original drainage plan, and self-seeded wattles.
  Looking east from the Eleven Mile bridge at Vervale/Cora Lynn, taken July 31, 2011.

In 1904, the Public Works Department planted 1500 wattle trees, comprising 40 species, along the Alexandra Avenue (1). This would have been at the direction of Carlo Catani who designed the Avenue and the adjoining Alexandra Gardens. A visitor from Western Australia described these trees a year later - Off Alexandra Drive Mr. Catani has a magnificent grove of wattles, now in full bloom, forming a magnificent sight, charming the eye and diffusing a subtle perfume (2). A report in 1909 said the collection of acacias or wattles in the avenue has been the admiration of the thousands of persons who have visited this truly lovely spot (3).

If you know wattles then you know that they can tend to get a bit straggly and have a short life-span or as The Australasian reported in 1909 -  Many of the acacias have the reputation of being short-lived, and this is correct if the plants are left to themselves; but it is well known that longevity in many trees may be promoted by judicious pruning and attention to watering in the dry weather. Mr. G. W. Cooper, the intelligent head gardener at this place, lays great stress on the value of pruning these plants immediately after they have done flowering. Numerous tall growing kinds may be kept within reasonable dimensions, and even the medium growers or those of bush habit may be kept quite dwarf by using the knife (4).

George Cooper worked with Carlo Catani from 1900 on the landscaping of Alexandra Avenue and at the Alexandra Gardens, where he was the head curator until 1917.  George Cooper not only worked with Carlo but deserves equal praise and recognition for making the Alexandra Gardens  one of Melbourne's most picturesque embellishments (5) I have written about him, here. George Cooper was also an expert on wattles who developed a wattle variety the "knife-leaved" wattle (A. cultrifoixuis) is very distinct, and is one of the best, but there is a variety of it which is of deeper colour, of dwarfer habit, a profuse bloomer, and with much closer set foliage than its parent; it originated in these gardens, and it is proposed to name it Cooperi, in honour of the head gardener (6). It would be interesting to know if this ever happened and if there is a George Cooper wattle. 

The wattle planting was not just confined to Alexandra Avenue, in 1904 wattles were planted at Richmond Park, also known as the Survey Paddock. Richmond Park is located in the bend of the Yarra River, surrounded on the north, west and south by the Yarra Boulevard (7). The planting was reported  in The AgeIn referring to-day to the wattle planting along the Alexandra Avenue. Mr Catani, of the Public Works Department, mentioned what had been done to also improve in the same way the Richmond Park, formerly known as the Survey paddock. On the high bank of the park, along the river, he said, wattles had been planted for some time, and were now being extended from the Hawthorn road bridge, to the Hawthorn railway bridge. The work was he remarked being carried out under the direction of the Richmond Park committee of which Mr David Martin, secretary of Public Works, was Chairman. A suitable approach was also in course of formation from Bridge road to the avenue. At an early date the trees would be in bloom. "I think," added the engineer with a smile mingled with a touch of enthusiasm, "we will soon restore to a once-beautiful stream, some suggestion of its pristine charms(8). An ambitious claim indeeed to believe the Yarra could be restored to even a suggestion of pristine charm, but this repesents the enthusiasm and hope that characterised Carlo.

There was more planting of native trees in 1913, on the north bank of the Yarra, on the east side of the Anderson Street bridge, also known as the Morell bridge. The tree planting took place in conjuction with Arbor Day on June 27, 1913. The ground, which was part of the old river bed, was prepared under the supervision of Carlo Catani, by George Cooper and his team. It was hoped that the planting will present an agreeable contrast to the odious tip still occupying the remaining part of the river bed on the other side of the bridge. With the exception of an avenue of deciduous trees along the river road, the planting is to consist entirely of Australian trees, such as mahgony gums, West Australian redgums and red flowering gums, lemon scented gums, flame trees, Bunya Bunya pines, waratahs, lilly pillies, grevilleas, wattles, and smaller plants (9). 


The plan for the planting of the 'All-Australian' plantation on June 27, 1913.

The Herald reported that with the exception of a border of Australian plants in the Botanical Gardens, this will be the first "All-Australian" plantation ever laid down (10)138 trees were planted of which 100 were Australian varieties and the rest English deciduous. It was a well attended function, over 1,000 people, including many local school children, were reported to have been present. The first tree was planted by the State Governor, Sir John Fuller, it was a mahogany gum (Eucalyplus botryoides). Sir John Madden, the Chief Justice, planted the next tree, a Western Australian red gum (Eucalyptus calophylla). Other dignatories also planted trees, including Carlo. The planting was supported by the Australian Forest League, the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and the Australian Natives' Association (11).


The Governor, Sir John Fuller, addressing the children at the 'All-Australian' planting 
on June 27, 1913. 

It has been suggested that the planting of wattle trees on Alexandra Avenue and near the Anderson Street bridge, may have been due to the influence of the Premier, Sir Thomas Bent. For instance in 1909 it was reported that it is about five years since the late Sir Thomas Bent, then Premier, expressed a desire that a number of our native acacias should be planted on some then vacant ground, near the banks of the river (12). And in 1913 The Herald wrote this about why native trees were planted near the Anderson Street bridge in this connection the Government has followed in the direction of Sir Thomas Bent, who was an enthusiastic admirer of all Australian flora, and wattles in particular (13)It may be so, but I prefer my interpretation that it was Carlo and George Cooper who influeneced the planting and they may well have influenced the Premier.  It was well known that Carlo was fond of wattles. The Prahran Telegraph, in article about the landscaping on the St Kilda foreshore said this Mr. Catani has much to say also in favour of the Australian wattle as an ornamental addition to the parks and reserves (14). 

As more evidence of Carlo's fondness for the wattle in 1911, member of Parliament, Harry Lawson, wrote a letter to his local paper, The Mount Alexander Mail. The letter set out a list of wattles, suggested by Carlo, which could be planted so you would have blooms all year round.

WATTLE DAY.
Sir,— With reference to the observance of Wattle Day, I desire to inform you that I recently obtained from Mr Catani, the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, a plan for planting different varieties of acacias, whereby it is claimed that perpetual bloom is secured. Mr Catani designed Alexandra Avenue, which is still under his care and supervision. I have inspected his wattle plantations (containing 44 varieties), where the plan is in operation. Mr Catani tells me that he has proved the scheme by actual experience. As it may be of interest to your readers, I enclose the list. You may be able to find space for them in your columns. —
Yours, etc., HARRY S.W. LAWSON State Parliament House, August 31st, 1911.

Time of Blooming, January. Common Name, New Year Wattle. Botanic Name, Acacia Elata.
February, Lightwood Wattle, Acacia Implexa.
March, Maiden Wattle, Acacia Maidenii.
April, Whipstick Wattle, Acacia Retinodes.
May, Sunshine Wattle, Acacia Discolor.
June, Sweetscented Wattle, Acacia Sauveolens.
July, Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia Baileyana.
August, Silver Wattle, Acacia Dealbata.
August, Coastal Wattle, Acacia Longifolia.
September, Golden Wattle, Acacia Pycnantha (also Acacia Spectabrilisy)
September, Latrobe Wattle, Acacia Acinacens.
October, Scrub Wattle. Acacia Leprosa.
October, Western Wattle,  Acacia Macradenia.
November, Black Wattle, Acacia Mollissima.
December, Black Wattle, Acacia Mollissima
(15).


More Koo Wee Rup Swamp self-seeded wattles.
Main Drain Road, looking west from the Eleven Mile Bridge at Cora Lynn, taken July 31, 2011.

In 1932, a bequest of £5000 from Sir Sidney Myer was reported of in The Herald. The paper had hoped that the generous bequest will forge another link in the scheme for a chain of boulevards and parks along the River Yarra. The scheme was first visualised many years ago by the late Mr Catani, of the Public Works Department. His idea was that a river boulevard should run from the city to Yarra Glen, where it would join the Healesville Road and link up with the highway over the Black Spur and the mountains beyond. Mr Catani's vision was one which has caught the imagination of town planners and beautifiers ever since. Many proposals have been made, although no official comprehensive plan exists....Among the many suggestions made in connection with the boulevard was one that it should be planted with wattles, and known as the Golden Highway (16)How wonderful that would have been and it could have happened if the politicians of the day had the vision and appreciation of beauty that Carlo had.

Acknowledgment
I was alerted to the Alexandra Gardens wattle grove and the all-Australian plantation at the Anderson Street bridge, by my fellow historian and Carlo enthusiast, Isaac Hermann. Thank you.

Trove list 
I have created a short list of articles connected to Carlo and Wattles and the all-Australian plantation on Trove, access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Advocate, August 27, 1904, see here.
(2) The West Australian, August 4, 1905, see here.
(3) The Australasian, September 25, 1909, see here.
(4) The Australasian, September 25, 1909, see here.
(5) The Age, February 1, 1929, see here.
(6) The Australasian, September 25, 1909, see here.
(7)  Location of Richmond Park


Richmond Park, is bottom left. This is from the Melway Street Directory, Edition 10, 1977.

(8) The Age, August 25, 1904, see here.
(9) The Argus, June 27 1913, see here.
(10) The Herald, June 18, 1913, see here.
(11) The Herald, June 18, 1913, see here. See my Trove list for other articles about planting near the Anderson Street bridge.
(12) The Australasian, September 25, 1909, see here.
(13) The Herald, June 18, 1913, see here
(14) Prahran Telegraph, September 13, 1913 see here.
(15) Mount Alexander Mail, September 1, 1913, see here.
(16) The Age, November 15, 1932, see here.

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