Lang Park

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    suburb
    Sydney (View suburb)
    ownership
    Park
    Historical, Visual,
    listing
    Local
    Year Planted
    c. 1866?
    Owner
    City of Sydney

    Scheduled Significant Trees

    Qty Common Name Species Locations
    3 Moreton Bay Fig Ficus macrophylla Find more locations
    1 Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii Find more locations
    1 Cliff Date Palm Phoenix rupicola Find more locations
    1 White Oak Quercus alba Find more locations

    Description

    Lang Park, a small triangular parcel of public land in the City’s CBD, is bounded by Grosvenor Street (north), York Street (west) and Lang Street (south-east). The park retains a significant collection of nineteenth century planting which reinforces the historic character of the precinct. The Park is defined by a typical structured treatment of informal row planting to the boundaries and individual specimen planting within the central lawn areas.

    The Park contains three majestic Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) on York Street (1) and Lang Street (2). These figs are outstanding examples of this species. The Moreton Bay Fig, located on York Street near the Ald. Nolan memorial (1904), and standing at 20 metres in height, 30 metres in canopy spread and 2.5 metre diameter base, is a particularly memorable specimen. Together these figs visually dominate this public space.

    Other elements include a stunted Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) and Queensland Firewheel Tree (Stenocarpus reticulatus).

    A single unidentified specimen, possibly White Oak (Quercus alba) is also planted in this park.

    Further embellishment and overlays during the Inter-War period (c.1915-1940) include a Hill’s Weeping Fig (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) , London Planes (Platanus x acerifolia), Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia).

    Significance

    Lang Park is defined by a typical structured treatment of informal row planting to the boundaries and individual specimen planting within the central lawn areas. The group of trees is considered to have significance at the City/ LGA level in terms of aesthetic, visual, historic and social values. There are also individual specimen trees of local significance.

    Historical notes

    Lang Park was the site of Sydney’s first clock tower (1798-1802) and the Church of St Phillip, named after Governor Phillip which stood on the site between 1798-1856. The site was known as “Lang’s Triangle” during this period in honour of Rev. Dr. J H Lang, who founded the Presbyterian Church in Australia. In 1866, the site was dedicated as a park for public recreation in honour of Rev. Dr.Lang.

    The park is scheduled in the City of Sydney Local Environmental Plan (CSH LEP 3, 2000), Sydney City Heritage Study and classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW). It is considered to be significant as an integral component of this historic precinct and its heritage buildings. The park retains a significant collection of nineteenth century planting which further reinforces the historic character of the precinct.

    The majestic Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) on York Street (1) and Lang Street (2) appear to pre-date much of the other planting and landscaping works. These figs, dating from possibly the early to mid-nineteenth century, are outstanding examples of this species. The Moreton Bay Fig, located on York Street near the Ald. Nolan memorial (1904), and standing at 20 metres in height, 30 metres in canopy spread and 2.5 metre diameter base, is a particularly memorable specimen. Together these figs visually dominate this public space.

    A stunted Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) and Queensland Firewheel Tree (Stenocarpus reticulatus) continue the lush, native evergreen theme typical of much of the historic planting throughout City’s parks and reserves. These compositions which focused on native rainforest and exotic subtropical collections, have associations with Charles Moore and Joseph Maiden (Directors, Royal Botanic Gardens).

    Many different species of exotic evergreen and deciduous Oaks were also planted at this time including a single unidentified specimen in this park, possibly White Oak (Quercus alba). Further embellishment and overlays during the Inter-War period (c.1915-1940) include a Hill’s Weeping Fig (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) , London Planes (Platanus x acerifolia), Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) and Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia). These species are considered to be important contextual elements and supportive of the earlier planting schemes.

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    Last modified: 5 March, 2014