Description
Jubilee Park and Oval
The formal pedestrian avenue of (26 palms) Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) is located immediately east of the oval and is supported by the associated row planting (13 palms). They measure approximately, height 12-20 metres (clear trunk) with canopy spread of 7-8 metres. Their canopies and root zones are contained within the park. Although most of these palms appear in good condition, the recent decline of one of the palms has revealed the presence of Fusarium wilt and the demise of the remaining palms is likely over the coming years. There is currently no treatment for this disease. Their management and replacement will be carefully considered, but it is likely a different species will need to be chosen.
Many of Jubilee Park’s Moreton Bay Figs are significant individual specimens (ranging up to 25 metres in height/ 25-30 metres in canopy spread with 2.0 – 3.5m diameter bases). Similarly, a number of Port Jackson Figs (glabrous-leaf form from the NSW north coast and Queensland) are of impressive proportions (ranging up to 22 metres in height/ 30 metres in canopy spread with 0.9 – 1.5m diameter bases). The park also contains a curious single specimen planting of the native Deciduous Fig (Ficus superba var. henneana).
Other scheduled specimens of note include four Norfolk Island Pines (Araucaria heterophylla) ranging up to 25 metres in height, a very large Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), American Cotton Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and Washington Palms (Washingtonia robusta). The American Cotton Palms are impressive specimens ranging up to 16 metres clear trunk height.
Old Tram Terminus Group (former Rozelle Tram Depot Site)
An informal mixed row plantation including five Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla), one Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) and three Lombardy Poplars (Populus nigra var. Italica) mark the boundary of the former Tram Terminus yard. The figs have an extensive combined canopy and range between 16-18 metres in height and 1.2-2.0 metres basal diameters.
Significance
Jubilee Park & Oval
The avenue of Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) is one of the most outstanding examples of civic planting using this species in the Sydney metropolitan area. This formal avenue (26 palms) and associated row planting (13 palms) has group significance at the City/ LGA level in terms of its commemorative, social, aesthetic and visual values. This collection of palms is also acquiring significance in terms of rarity value due to significant public collections of this species throughout Sydney’s eastern suburbs having been decimated in recent years by a soil fungal pathogen, known commonly as Fusarium wilt.
Many of the park’s mature Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) and Port Jackson Figs (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) are significant at the local level as individual specimens.
Old Tram Terminus Group (former Rozelle Tram Depot Site)
An informal mixed row plantation including five Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla), one Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) mark the boundary of the former Tram Terminus yard. Although there are no individual specimens of note, the mixed group has significance at the local level in terms of its historic landmark qualities and social history.
Historical notes
The parklands were mostly created by land reclamations of the swampland around Johnston’s Creek, which commenced in 1886. A referendum rejected use of the land for industry only, and part of the reclaimed land was dedicated as parklands for recreational purposes on 11 November 1899. Annandale and Glebe Councils became joint trustees of the reclaimed parklands. The newly created parklands on each side of the creek (which was converted to a stormwater channel) were named Federal Park in celebration of Australia’s federation. On 23 September 1908 the park to the west of the channel was proclaimed as part of Annandale, and the area to the east as part of Glebe. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of Glebe Municipality, the Glebe section of the park was renamed Jubilee Park and became a focus of Glebe’s jubilee celebrations in August 1909. The Annandale section continued to be known as Federal Park. (State Heritage Register)
Jubilee Park & Oval
The avenue of Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) is believed to have been planted in 1935 (Burton, C., pers. comm., 2005). This exotic palm species with its bold accent, dramatic scale, uniform growth pattern and tolerance to drought was highly favoured in formal planting schemes. The palm is generally associated with commemorative parkland and civic landscapes established during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (particularly the Inter-war Period (c.1915-1940). Significant public collections of this species throughout Sydney’s eastern suburbs have been decimated in recent years by a soil fungal pathogen, known commonly as Fusarium wilt. The elimination of these iconic landscapes has been swift. Centennial Park has been particularly affected by this problem. Replacement planting schemes using the same and other palm species (eg. Washingtonia spp.) have failed, thus leading to the use of alternate tree species.
The row planting, group clusters and individual specimens of mature Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla) and Port Jackson Figs (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) visually dominate much of this foreshore parkland. These species are highly significant components of the Glebe Point landscape and parklands throughout the City of Sydney LGA. The park also contains a curious single specimen planting of the native Deciduous Fig (Ficus superba var. henneana). In addition to these figs, a rare example of a Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) occurs in Federation Park (Burton, C., pers. comm., 2005).
Other scheduled specimens of note include four Norfolk Island Pines (Araucaria heterophylla) ranging up to 25 metres in height, a very large Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora), Holm Oak (Quercus ilex), American Cotton Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and Washington Palms (Washingtonia robusta). The American Cotton Palms are impressive specimens ranging up to 16 metres clear trunk height. This eclectic collection of trees and palms, which focuses on native rainforest and exotic subtropical species, has important associations with Charles Moore and Joseph Maiden (Directors, Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens).
Old Tram Terminus Group (former Rozelle Tram Depot Site).
The Rozelle Depot was opened on the 17th April 1904, operating the western, southwestern and Ryde lines in conjunction with Ultimo and Newtown Depots. It was a twenty five road car shed and traffic offices and amenities in a range of single storey brick buildings. Located adjacent to the Epping Recreation Ground and Greyhound Coursing Track (now Harold Park), it was originally accessed by a long reserved track from Glebe which is now Minogue Crescent. The depot closed on on the 22nd November 1958 when the Glebe line closed. The depot was soon leased and became a truck depot with part of the grounds utilised for parking associated with the adjacent dog racing track (now Harold Park). This use continued until the 1980’s, after which the building was leased to various occupants who used it primarily as storage. These included the Universal Machinery Company, Sydney City Council and the City Tram Association. The trams presently stored in the building relate to the latter two occupants. (State Heritage Register) It is listed in the City of Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012.
An informal mixed row plantation including five Moreton Bay Figs (Ficus macrophylla), one Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) and four Lombardy Poplars (Populus nigra var. Italica) mark the boundary of the former Tram Terminus yard. This isolated group of trees, immediately north of the existing security fence adjoining Harold Park Paceway. The group possibly dates from the late Victorian period as part of the construction of the sheds. Although there are no individual specimens of note, the mixed group has significance at the local level in terms of its historic landmark qualities and social history.
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