Carlo and the Geelong Road tree planting project

In 1915 there was a proposal to plant trees along the Geelong Road. The scheme was devised by the Geelong municipalities and the Public Works Department. The Colac Reformer reported -
Speaking to a Geelong district shire engineer, Mr Catani, of the Public Works Department, said the Geelong and district municipalities ought to contribute towards the proposal to plant the Geelong-Melbourne main road with trees, as it would make the thoroughfare one of the most popular in the State, and tend directly towards the advancement of the whole district. The estimated cost is £10,000, half of which it is expected the Government will contribute; if all the councils interested assist in raising their share it will not be a heavy undertaking particularly if the Government allows them extended payments at a reasonable rate of interest. The scheme has been approved by Geelong district councils, but none has so far indicated what it is prepared to contribute. (1)

The success of the project, as the article noted, relied on various the Councils contributing towards the cost. Geelong at the time was covered by the following municipalities - City of Geelong, Borough of Geelong West, Borough of Newtown & Chilwell, Shire of South Barwon and Shire of  Corio; and the Geelong Road also went through the Shire of Werribee, thus six municipalities were involved.

Princes Highway (Geelong Road), Werribee in 1921

Country Roads Board collection, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 17684/P0003/34, 21_00072

There was support, in theory, for this project for different reasons, apart from the aesthetics of a shady, tree lined road. Firstly, as Cr McCann of Corio Shire noted  scientists wore of the opinion that the destruction of trees tended to reduce the average rainfall. If trees were planted along the road it, would make admirable shelter and be a good break wind. (2) Secondly, support came from the Conservator of Forests who considered that the road could be planted with timber of commercial value, which in years to come would certainly be reproductive. (3) Thirdly, it would provide employment for married men who had become unemployed owing to the war and drought. (4)

However, from the beginning, the City of Geelong was not interested on the grounds that  that it could lay out money to much better advantage on the foreshore and improving the Barwon river. (5) The Shire Engineer of Corio suggested that the only practical way to have the scheme carried out was to have the necessary power vested in the Country Roads Board (CRB); in that way all municipalities interested would be called upon to bear their proportion of the cost. (6) However, the CRB did not currently have the power to plant trees and the Shire President suggested that the Minister for Public works be asked  to amend the Act with the object of giving power to the Country Roads Board to carry out tree planting on roads. (7) 

The Country Roads Board was established in 1913, a central road authority with responsibility for those roads within the State considered to be main roads (8) and engineer William Calder (1860 -1928) was appointed Chairman. He had previously been the City Engineer at the City of Prahran. (9)

What happened of the Geelong Road tree planting proposal, that Carlo had advocated for? Nothing, and in all fairness the War would have meant that there were other priorities in the community for resources and man power.

Princes Highway (Geelong Road) between Werribee and Little River, 1916.

Country Roads Board collection, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 17684/P0003/916, 16_00028

There were later proposals for tree planting. In 1918, the Werribee Shire intended to plant an Avenue of Honour along their section of the road. (10) In 1924 The Argus noted that this stretch of road was the best in Australia for its length, is also the most uninteresting. It is devoid of both scenery and hills, crossing a wide expanse of plain....A row of trees on either side would greatly relieve the monotony of the drive, and would enhance the prospect. (11) That same year, another plan was  put forward by the Mayor of Geelong, Cr Robert Purnell who was hopeful that the Forestry Commission, with the assistance of the municipalities, will go through with the planting scheme. (12)

It wasn't until 1928, 13 years after Carlo and the Public Works Department were first involved that a tree planting project became a reality and by then the Country Roads Board, had tree planting powers.  The Argus reported in April 1928 that  To perpetuate the memory of the late Mr. W. Calder, who was chairman of the Country Roads Board, it is intended to complete the planting of trees along the Geelong road and to name the road the Calder avenue. (13)

The next year, in July 1929 it was reported that -

the planting of trees in the Calder memorial avenue along the Geelong road was recommenced last Monday, and in three days 368 trees were added to the plantations between Kororoit Creek and Aviation road, sold out between Werribee and Little River. At a meeting of the appeal committee yesterday representatives of the Country Roads Board reported that the board expected to plant 1,392 trees next week. It was stated that £1,475, which had been expended in making the avenue, represented only labour, in the trees planted having been presented by nurserymen. It was intended to purchase two varieties of trees which were not easily obtainable in Victoria. The committee expressed keen appreciation of the nurserymen's a generosity, and as a mark of gratitude it was decided to allot to them one of the plantations The committee decided to make a special appeal to motorists to contribute to the fund. (14)

Melbourne Road, Geelong (as that part of the Princes Highway is called in Geelong) in 1929. The Ford Motor Works is on the left.

Country Roads Board collection, Public Records Office of Victoria VPRS 17684/P0003/436, 28_00087

The planting of the Calder Memorial Avenue was completed in 1934, and by then over 60,000 trees had been planted. (15) I have no information about when the name Calder Memorial Avenue ceased being used. There are only 9 references to the name between 1932 and 1937 in the newspapers on Trove, so the early 1930s would be my guess. The road between Melbourne and Mildura, originally called the North-Western Highway,  was re-named the Calder Highway in December 1928 (16),  and this may have been a reason that the Calder Memorial Avenue name fell into disuse - apart from the fact the road already had two names,  the Princes Highway and the Geelong Road. 

Trove List - I have created a short list of newspaper articles on this topic, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) Colac Reformer, February 9, 1915, see here.

(2) Geelong Advertiser, February 25, 1915, see here.

(3) Geelong Advertiser, January 9, 1915, see here.

(4) Ibid

(5) Geelong Advertiser, February 25, 1915, see here.

(6) Ibid

(7) Ibid

(8) CRB - Public Records Office of Victoria https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/VA722 

(9) William Calder - Australian Dictionary of Biography            https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/calder-william-5466

(10) Werribee Shire Banner, June 20, 1918, see here.

(11) The Argus, July 9, 1924, see here.

(12) The Herald, January 31, 1924, see here.

(13) The Argus, April 12, 1928, see here.

(14) The Argus, July 13, 1929, see here.

(15) Werribee Shire Banner, March 1, 1934, see here.

(16) The Age, December 24, 1928, see here.

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 Age - In 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 Argus, June 27, 1913. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/10792411

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. 

Punch, July 3, 1913 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/176547645

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.