Description
Wynyard Park has a mixed and eclectic planting palette with plantings from the late nineteenth century and later periods.
The Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), located in the northern lawn area, is an outstanding landmark specimen of high visual significance. A second smaller Hoop Pine on Margaret Street and other native rainforest species such as the Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) on the corner of Margaret and York Streets, Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) and Crows Ash (Flindersia australis) on York Street, continue an historic thematic palette within the City of Sydney. It is interesting to note the similarity of the York Street boundary row planting and the Missenden Road row planting to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown (ie. use of mixed native rainforest species such as Crows Ash (Flindersia australis) in both of these schemes.
Wynyard Park also contains an outstanding pair of American Cotton Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and exotic evergreen broadleaf species such as the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and American Bull Bay Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Other deciduous Oaks include English Oak (Quercus robur) and Pin Oak (Quercus palustris).
The dominant London Plane (Platanus x acerifolia) row planting along York Street and the two large Hill’s Weeping Figs (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) are representative of planting overlays during the Inter-War period (c.1930’s).
Significance
Wynyard Park is listed on the State Heritage Register as a place of cultural significance, scheduled in the City of Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 and referred to in the Sydney City Heritage Study. The collection has group significance at the City/ LGA level in terms of its overall aesthetic, visual, botanic and historic values. Dedicated for public recreation in 1887, Wynyard Park has continued to be an important part of Sydney’s open space since this earliest time.
The park has a very mixed and eclectic planting palette. The late nineteenth century planting structure has been compromised by successive phases of development and upgrades to Wynyard Station.
Historical notes
Wynyard Park, dedicated for public recreation in 1887, was first used as a military parade ground in 1792. During the period 1848-1887, the area was known as Wynyard Square. The main period of park development occurred between 1890-1910, at which time the Rev. Dr. J D Lang memorial was added. The park design was influenced by Colonial architect Mortimer Lewis (1835-1849) and later by Charles Moore (Director, Royal Botanic Gardens 1848-1896). The age and structure of remaining significant trees in the park reflect this late Victorian period (refer to Figure C: Wynyard Park c.1891, State Library of NSW – Small Pictures Files (Monuments). Excavations for Wynyard Station commenced in 1925 and continued through to 1933, removing much of the earlier historic fabric. The park has served as a public transport hub since this period. Wynyard Park is listed on the State Heritage Register as a place of cultural significance, scheduled in the Local Environmental Plan (CSH LEP 3, 2000) and referred to in the Sydney City Heritage Study.
The park has a very mixed and eclectic planting palette. The late nineteenth century planting structure to the park has been compromised by successive phases of development and upgrades to Wynyard Station. Nevertheless, the Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii), located in the northern lawn area, is an outstanding landmark specimen of high visual significance. A second smaller Hoop pine on Margaret Street and other native rainforest species such as the Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) on the corner of Margaret and York Streets, Illawarra Flame Tree (Brachychiton acerifolius) and Crows Ash (Flindersia australis) on York Street, continue an historic thematic palette within the City of Sydney. It is interesting to note the similarity of the York Street boundary row planting and the Missenden Road row planting to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown (ie. use of mixed native rainforest species such as Crows Ash (Flindersia australis) in both of these schemes.
Wynyard Park also contains an outstanding pair of American Cotton Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and exotic evergreen broadleaf species such as the Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) and American Bull Bay Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). These species would date from the late nineteenth century phase of planting. Other deciduous Oaks include English Oak (Quercus robur) and Pin Oak (Quercus palustris).
The dominant London Plane (Platanus x acerifolia) row planting along York Street and the two large Hill’s Weeping Figs (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) are representative of planting overlays during the Inter-War period (c.1930’s). The collection has group significance at the City/ LGA level in terms of its overall aesthetic, visual, cultural, historic and social values.
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