Hello ODK History Lovers

I am lucky to live virtually next door to the Royal Tasmanian Botanic Gardens
(RTBG). A regular walk from home, over a footbridge across Brooker Avenue,
delivers me to the beauty of the Queen's Domain and, in particular, the Royal
Botanic Gardens.

It is a real treat to see these gardens change character from
season to season, and from year to year.

There is a lawnmower story in this, and an important one. My current research
suggests that lawnmowers were imported into Australia from the 1850s, and the
record of this machine, imported to Hobart in 1858, is therefore significant.

The RTBG covers an area of approximately 14 hectares (34.6 acres), and was
established in Hobart in 1818, making it the second oldest botanical garden in
Australia. The Gardens hold historic plant collections and a large number of
significant trees, many dating back to the nineteenth century.

[Linked Image]
Image: Cyberjack 22/12/2015

I found this story when looking at a display board in the historic
Overseer's Cottage. Built in 1848, the cottage was home to the Overseer
or Head Gardener for many years. Today, the Friends of the Royal
Tasmanian Botanical Gardens use it as their headquarters.

[Linked Image]
Image: http://davidsonfamilyarchives.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/friends-cottage-royal-tasmanian.html

As I was looking at the display boards, one particular board
(in what once was a bedroom) in this tiny cottage caught my attention...

TO BE CONTINUED ...