Media Release
The State Library Goes 'Gardenesque'!
14 September 2004
The art of the gardener comes alive in a stunning new exhibition at the State Library of Victoria from 7 October. Gardenesque: A Celebration of Australian Gardening presents a lively, entertaining and occasionally whimsical look at gardening in Australia – from the beautiful to the bizarre, the classical to the quirky.
Curated by garden historian Richard Aitken, the exhibition features a selection of unique items from the State Library’s extensive collections – from original paintings, posters and photographs to rare gardening books and magazines. Visitors will be taken on a fascinating journey through two centuries of Australian gardening and cultural history.
The show opens with original records of the first European gardening done in Victoria, on Churchill Island in 1801 and along the banks of the Yarra River in 1803. Sumptuous colour-plates from 19th-century botanical books showcase the exotic floras of the Asia-Pacific region, while pocket-sized herbals and handbooks bring alive the world of the emigrant gardener. Diaries and journals tell of the hardships of gardening in the colonies, while plans and photographs convey our rich legacy of public parks and gardens in the ‘Garden State’.
Gardenesque also brings to life 20th-century gardening ideas and inspiration. Follow the career of Edna Walling, let ‘Velvet Lawn’ transport you to 1950s suburbia, relive the glory of Ballarat’s Begonia Queen, admire early bush gardens, and celebrate the 1960s dream of the pebble garden. Witness the rise of environmentalism and ponder the metaphysical depths of the National Museum’s controversial Garden of Australian Dreams.
Gardenesque – the book
To complement the exhibition, a superb illustrated book by Richard Aitken will be published by The Miegunyah Press in association with the State Library of Victoria. Gardenesque: A Celebration of Australian Gardening (RRP A$45) will feature over 200 colour illustrations, plus lively and authoritative text.
Gardenesque is at the State Library from 7 October 2004 to 27 February 2005.
10am–5pm daily (closed public holidays)
State Library, Keith Murdoch Gallery
Entry 1, Swanston Street
Free entry
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