A big deal
was made of it in 1889, when Mr Jesse Gregson,
Superintendent of the AA Company, gifted 3.8 hectares of land to the Hamilton
Council. The Council had to guarantee to Mr Gregson that the land would be
devoted solely to the recreation of workers and their families, and promise to
allocate funds for improvement. Was the Council so grateful for this generosity
that the reserve was named Gregson Park, in Jesse Gregson’s honour, or was that
a condition too?
Entrance gates to Gregson Park commemorate
Hamilton’s
first Councillors, 2015
Photograph by Craig Smith
For a start, a stream
that was part of Styx Creek flowed right through the reserve, and often
flooded. Gregson Park was, after all, within the Hunter estuarine system. The
lower south west corner harboured a swamp. It was rough, low lying land covered
by ti-tree scrub and weeds.
In 1890 Alfred Sharp of
Newcastle - artist, architect, draftsman and landscape designer - won the £10
prize for his design for Gregson Park.[1]
However, for reasons unknown, not all his ideas were implemented. Sharp
envisaged that the stream would be developed into a ‘serpentine lake with
islands’.[2]
Instead, in 1891,
Council began filling in the waterway with garbage and street sweepings, taking
care to cover each layer with ‘clean material’. The creek was eventually
drained and filled in. In a local example of land reclamation, thousands of
tons of earth and other material were, over time deposited in Gregson Park. [3]
John Goodyer was
appointed gardener, with authority to travel to Sydney and buy shrubs and
trees. Two bridges were proposed - ‘one over the creek at Samdon Street and one
bridge at Lindsay Street.’[4]
Bridge over flood waters in Gregson Park, 1908
Photograph courtesy of Newcastle Region Library
As Gregson
Park began to take shape as an urban Victorian park, it quickly became a
popular recreational area for the people of Hamilton, as well as a focus for
civic monuments.
One of
the earliest built structures in Gregson Park was the Hamilton Bowling Club, formed
in 1896 – with separate bowling greens and clubhouses for ‘ladies and
gentlemen.’ In 2013, almost 120 years of history came to an end when it closed.
It is likely the site will be leased for adaptive re-use as a child care
centre. [5]
When the tennis
courts were built, one court was for residents, the other for teachers and
senior scholars at the public school.[6]
Before
World War I, in 1905, two 1840s Walker cannons from Victoria Barracks, Sydney
were shipped to Newcastle at considerable expense. They were erected in Gregson
Park, near the Bowling Club. Later, when this central position was needed for a War Memorial, the cannons
were moved to to the entrance facing James Street.
One of the cannons in its original position,
Gregson Park, early 1900s
The bridge and an early version of the bowling club
are clearly visible,
with Hamilton School in the background
Photograph by Dr John Turner, courtesy of Newcastle
Cultural Collections,
University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
After the
sudden death of Hamilton businessman Ramsay Gow, his wife Fanny and family
presented a set of iron gates with stone posts in tribute to him. The gates
would formalize the James Street entrance. Not far away, in Lindsay Street, the
former Gow family residence – 'Fettercairn' - still stands.
Opening of the Gow memorial gates, Gregson Park,
1908
Lynn family photograph, courtesy of Newcastle Region Library
Ornamental
public drinking fountains were often a feature of nineteenth century recreational
areas. The ubiquitous water bottle wasn’t carried in those days! Often the
erection of a fountain would be linked to an important event or eminent
individual.
George Donald was a well known Hamilton businessman, deeply involved in the Scots Kirk,
and Hamilton’s first Mayor. The Donald family gifted the fountain in recognition
of George Donald’s contribution to the social and political life of the
community.
Donald Fountain was opened on 29 July 1908
Drinking taps were located on either side; the stonemason
did not record his name.
Photograph by Craig Smith, 2015
Gregson
Park was the place to be, and to be seen, especially by the well-to-do families
of Hamilton.
Promenade in Gregson Park, 1908
Lynn family photograph, courtesy of Newcastle
Region Library
When the
gates at the Tudor/Steel Street entrance were installed, Gregson Park was
near-complete. These gates commemorated the members of the first Hamilton
Council, which had been incorporated in 1871.
Opening of the Tudor and Steel Street gates of
Gregson Park, 1912
Ellen/Helen Tudor, wife of the late publican Thomas
Tudor, opened the gates
Tudor Street is named for Thomas Tudor
Photograph by Ralph Snowball, courtesy of Newcastle
Cultural Collections,
University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
In 1918,
visitors to Gregson Park could enjoy ‘19 large flower beds, several lawns, one
mile of walks and two of edging.’ [7] A year
or so later, a War Memorial was built in a premier position within the park.
Dawn services continue to be held in Gregson Park on Anzac Day.
Dawn service, Gregson Park, Hamilton,1957
Floodlighting the memorial for the first time in
1937 attracted
a crowd of 7000 people
Photograph from the Hood Collection, State Library
of NSW
No known copyright restriction
By 1929
Gregson Park was very well established, and considered ‘the prettiest resort in
the suburb and…unequalled for beautiful surroundings in any other part of the
Newcastle district.’[8]
Horse drawn lawn mower in Gregson Park, 1920s
Photograph from the collection of Mrs M Dolahenty
Courtesy Fairfax Syndication
Better
equipment was needed for children to enjoy the park. In 1938, a pavilion and
children’s playground was opened by the Lady Mayoress, Mrs J E Wiggins. She
declared this was money well spent; the area would be reserved for women and
small children. She also suggested the novel idea of the Council employing a
(paid) female caretaker who would watch the children in the playground while
their mothers went off shopping.[9]
Other
installations over the years included a fernery, which seems to have disappeared,
and a rotunda. This was demolished in 1940.
By 1966,
Gregson Park had ‘three times won its class in statewide competitions,’ tended
by head gardener Jim Duck, who farmed near Dungog in his spare time.
Now the
children’s playground draws in parents, grandparents and carers throughout the
day; the tennis courts are occupied; sometimes you’ll find a band practicing
beneath the trees. Anyone can join a casual soccer
game on Sunday afternoons - that began in 1989.
Gregson
Park puts on her best for the big events like Anzac Day
services or May Day celebrations. She will embrace a candlelight vigil for
refugees, community markets, or a boisterous picnic; she will offer us peaceful spaces to stroll,
to soak up some sunshine, or laze on the lawns and drowse. She’s there, for
everyone.
Gregson Park, Hamilton – Spring, 2015
Photograph by Craig Smith
Update
In 2020, the City of Newcastle conducted community consultations on its draft Masterplan for Gregson Park. The Masterplan is to guide the vision and renewal of the park over the next 10-15 years. The draft Masterplan is expected to go on public exhibition in August, 2021.
3 comments:
Hello! I moved to Hamilton last year and just discovered your blog (while searching for the phone number for Gregson Park tennis courts). I love the information in here, and how much time you've clearly spent researching this. I'm going to pop down Beaumont Street today and see if I can find a copy of your book. Many thanks!
Thanks Oliver. So glad you are enjoying discovering Hamilton's past (and present!) Both newsagents, both bookshops and also Hamilton Library should have free copies of the Hamilton Walking Tour brochure, too - it shows where most of the 16 heritage plaques are. Good luck.
Love these old photos, thank you for sharing your research!
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