Australian 19th century garden literature

Introduction – Australian 19C garden literature

Nineteenth century gardening literature in Australia reflects a period of significant development and evolution in the country’s horticultural practices. It has a significant role in garden history. As European settlers arrived in Australia in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, they brought with them a wealth of gardening knowledge and expertise that would shape the landscape and culture of the new colony.

One of the earliest and most influential works of gardening literature in Australia was John Williams’ “The Garden Companion,” published in 1831. Williams, a botanist and gardener, drew on his experience working in the gardens of British estates to provide practical advice for Australian gardeners. His book covered a wide range of topics, from soil preparation and plant propagation to the design of ornamental gardens.

Williams’ emphasis on adapting traditional European gardening practices to the Australian climate and soil conditions set the tone for much of the gardening literature that followed. As settlers struggled to establish productive gardens in the harsh Australian environment, they turned to books and magazines for guidance on selecting suitable plants and caring for their gardens.

The mid-19th century saw a boom in gardening literature in Australia, with publications such as the “Australian Journal of Horticulture and Floriculture” providing a platform for botanists, gardeners, and amateur enthusiasts to share their knowledge and experiences. These publications often featured articles on new plant introductions, gardening techniques, and reports on horticultural societies and exhibitions.

One of the most popular writers of the period was George Lindley, whose “Australian Garden Guide” was first published in 1857. Lindley, a landscape architect and horticulturalist, was a strong advocate for the use of native Australian plants in gardens. His book encouraged readers to embrace the unique flora of the continent and to experiment with new and unusual species in their own gardens.

In addition to practical gardening advice, 19th century Australian garden literature often reflected broader cultural and social trends. The Romantic movement, with its emphasis on the beauty of nature and the importance of personal connection to the landscape, influenced many writers and gardeners of the period. Books and articles on garden design often espoused the idea of creating tranquil and picturesque landscapes that would provide a refuge from the stresses of urban life.

The role of women in gardening literature also began to emerge in the 19th century, with publications such as “The Australian Gardener’s Companion” catering specifically to female gardeners. These books often included sections on flower arranging, decorative gardening, and the cultivation of ornamental plants, reflecting the growing interest of women in horticulture as both a practical and aesthetic pursuit.

By the end of the 19th century, gardening literature in Australia had become an established and respected field, with a wealth of publications covering a wide range of topics. From practical how-to guides to philosophical treatises on the art of gardening, these books and articles provided a rich source of information and inspiration for Australian gardeners of all levels of experience.

In conclusion, 19th century gardening literature in Australia reflects a period of intense growth and innovation in horticultural practices. From the early practical advice of John Williams to the botanical explorations of George Lindley and the cultural and social influences of the Romantic movement, these writings captured the spirit of a nation seeking to establish its own unique gardening identity. Today, the legacy of 19th century Australian gardening literature lives on in the country’s diverse and vibrant horticultural traditions (AI-GPT-4o).

Timeline – Australian 19C garden literature

1806 – Howe, G. (1806) New South Wales pocket almanack and colonial remembrance. Contains the Aust. Gardening guide, Repr. Mulini Press, Canberra, 1980.
1828 – Fraser, E. (1828) Catalogue of the fruits cultivated in the Government Botanic Garden at Sydney, New South Wales. Gardeners magazine 5: 280.
1835 – Shepherd, T.W. (1835) Lectures on the horticulture of New South Wales, Sydney. William McGarvie,
delivered at the Mechanics School of Arts, Sydney.
1836 – Shepherd, T.W. (1836) Lectures on lands cape gardening in Australia. W. McGarvie, Sydney
1838 – Bunce, D. (1838) The Australian manual of horticulture. Hunter, Melbourne. Later editions: 2nd 1850; 3rd 1851; 4th 1857.
1838 – Bunce, D. (1838). Manual of practical gardening adapted to the climate of Van Diemen’s Land .. W.G. E11liston, Hobart Town.
1843 – Macarthur, W. (1843) Catalogue of plants cultivated at Camden. Welch, Sydney. Other editions: 1845, 1850, 1857
1843 – McEwin, G. (1843). South Australian vigneron and gardeners’ manual. James A1len, Adelaide.
1845 – Dickinson, J. (1845) Catalogue of annual and herbaceous plants. W.M. Gore
E1liston, Melbourne.
1854 – Smith, Adamson & Co. (1854) The colonial gardener, being a guide to the routine of gardening in Australia … Goodhugh & Trembath, Melbourne.
1855 – Dickinson, J. (1855) The wreath: a gardener’s manual, arranged for the climate
of Tasmania. Ed. J. Morgan. “Colonial Times” Office, Hobart.
185? – Sinclair, J. (185?). Beauties of Victoria in 1856 containing notices of two hundred of the principal gardens round Melbourne (Melbourne?) (Melbourne?)
1856 – Wood, J.F. (1856) The South Australian horticulturist and magazine of agriculture, botany and natural history. S.E. Roberts, Adelaide.
1857 – Sinclair, J. (1857?) Everyman his own gardener. Bound Manuscript. (c. 1866)
1859 – Australian gardener: being a complete system of gardening practices in
Victoria. The earliest edition so far traced is the 4th of 1859 and was probably issued by Smith and Adamson, Nurserymen of Melbourne. Subsequent editions, with a slightly variant title, were written
by W. Adamson. Still later editions were edited by other people, among them being A.C. Sturrock and F.H. Brunning. Similarly, later editions became known as “Adamson’s Australian gardener” and
been ascertained, other “Brunnings Australian gardener”. As far as has editions to 1900, are:
5th, 1860; 6th, 1862; 7th, 1863; 8th, 1872; 9th, 1875; 10th, 1879; 11th, 1884; 12th, 1888; 13th, 1891; 14th, 1896.
1859 – Sinclair, J. (1859) Australian gardenrs’ chronicle, or calendar of operations for every month of the year in the kitchen garden. Melbourne.
1859 – McMi1lan, T. (1859) Rule’s economical gardening for cottagers … J.J. Rule, Melbourne.
1860 – Cole, T.C. (1860) Cole’s gardening in Victoria; containing full directions for the formation and general management of a good garden W. Fairfax, Melbourne.
1860 – Colonial handbook for farmers and gardeners (1860) Victorian Agricultural and Horticultural Gazette Office, Geelong.
1862 – Smith, G. (1862). The cottage gardener: comprising the kitchen, fruit and flower garden … Comb & Co., Ballarat.
1866 – Johnson, T. (1866) The culture of the rose. Blundell & Ford, Melbourne. This is a 3 vol. 32 page catalogue of about 150 roses, mostly old hybrid perpetuals. It contains a preface by Mueller written from M.B.G. Sept. 12, 1866
1869 – Lang, T. (1869) List of garden implements. Melbourne.
(?1870) – Law, Somner & Co. (?) Handbook to the garden for New South Wales. W. Maddock, Sydney. Later edition, (n.d.) Anderson, Hall & Co. Sydney.
1864 – Law, Somner & Co. (1864). General catalogue with calendar of gardening operations. Clarson, Shallard & Co., Melbourne.
1867 – Law, Somner & Co. (1867) Live fences: the osage orange and other hedge plants. Law, Somner, Sydney.
1870 – Walch, J. & Sons (1870) Hand book of Garden and Greenhouse Culture in Tasmania. J. Walch & Sons, Hobart.
1875 – Mackay, A. (1875) The semi-tropical agriculturist and colonist’s guide: plain words upon station, farm and garden work, housekeeping and the useful pursuits of colonists. Slater, Brisbane. Other editions: 2nd 1890; (3rd) 1897.
1879 – Sturrock, A.C. (1879) The Australian gardeners’ guide: an epitome for the colony of Victoria. New edition. G. Robertson, Melbourne.
1879 – Hylde, R.T. (1879) On annuals, basket plants and climbers. Adelaide
1880 – Treseder Bros. (1880) The garden. A.W. Beard, Sydney. 2nd ed. by J.G. Treseder (1884) C. Jerrems, Sydney.
1871 – Heyne, E.B. (1871) The fruit flower and vegetable garden. Andrews, Thomas & Clark, Adelaide. Later editions under the title “The amateur gardener of the fruit, flower and Vegetable Garden: 2nd 187?, 3rd 1881 4th 1886
1878 – Crichton, D. (1878) The Australian horticultural magazine and garden guide.
Melbourne.
1880 – Brown, J.E. (1880). Report on a system of planting the Adelaide park lands illustrated by plans
and sketches. R.K. Thomas, Adelaide.
1881 – Brown, J.E. (1881) A practical treatise on tree culture in South Australia. Government Printer, Adelaide. Later editions: 2nd 1881 (reprint of 1st); 3rd 1886
1884 – Handbook of garden and greenhouse culture in Tasmania. (1884) 2nd ed Hobart.
1880 – Law, Somner & Co. (1880). Handbook to the garden and farm for Victoria, Law,
Somner, Melbourne.
1889 – Law, Somner &Co. (1889) Handbook to the garden and the farm, a guide to Australian
cultivators. Melbourne
1886 – 1907 – Campbell, W.S. (1907) Australian home gardening: flower and vegetable tables. Sydney.
1886 – Clarson, W. (1886) Kitchen garden and cottagers manual. Melbourne.
1890 – James, H.A. (1890) Practical horticulture for Australian readers. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
1891-1892 – James, H.A. (1891-2). Handbook of Australian horticulture: in twelve monthly parts. Turner and Henderson, Sydney.
1893 – Browne, M.M. (Mrs Rolf Boldrewood) (1893) The flower garden in Australia. Melville, Mullen & Slade, Melbourne.
1893 – Mortlock, J.J. (1893) Australian amateur gardener. George Robertson, Melbourne. Amateur series, no. 3.
189? – Young, A. (189?) The New South Wales gardener: a handbook to the garden. Anderson & Co., Sydney.
1896 – Eliott, W. (1896) Cole’s Australasian gardening and domestic floriculture.
Cole. Melbourne. Later edition: 1903.
1897 – Yates, Arthur, & Co. (1897) Hints for amateurs: Yates gardening guide for Australia and New Zealand. 3rd ed. Yates, Sudney & Auckland.
1900 – Clarson, W. (1900) The flower garden and shrubbery with directions as to the management of the bush house, fernery, conservatory and other ornamental and useful home surroundings of the cottage and villa Anderson & Co, Sydney. 9th ed. Rev. by F. Hannaford. A.H. Massina & Co., Melbourne.
Cole, E.W. (n.d.) Cole’s penny garden guide: what to do each month in the flower, fruit and kitchen garden . E.W. Cole, Melbourne.
1903 – Luffmann, C.B. (1903) Principles of gardening for Australia. “Book Lovers Library”, Melbourne.
1910 – Guilfoyle, W.R. (1910) Australian plants, suitable for gardens, parts, timber reserves. Whitcombe & Tombs, Melbourne.

Periodicals

1875-1940 – Garden and field, v. 1-64(12); 1875-1940 Adelaide and Melbourne
1902-1903 – Garden gazette. July 1902-September 1903 Melbourne.
1855-1856 – Gardener’s magazine and journal of rural economy. Ed. J. Sinclair. v.1(1-11); 1855-56. Melbourne
1877-1878 – Horticultural magazine and garden guide. v. 1-2(12); 1877-78. Later Australian horticultural magazine and garden guide.
1864-1871 – Horticultural magazine and gardeners’ and amateurs’ calendar, containing the transactions of the horticultural Society of Sydney. v.1, 1864 continued to at least 1871. Sydney.
1857-1861 – Victorian agricultural and horticultural gazette. v.1-5(13), 1857/8-61. Geelong.

First published on the internet – 1 March 2019