Description
Turruwul Park is a relatively level, rectilinear-shaped, local park within a predominantly residential area. Turruwul Park consists of a number of disjunctive planted elements which appear to have been overlayed at varying times in a municipal “Gardenesque” style. The park lacks the structural elements of the late nineteenth century parks which included more consistent thematic palettes, row planting to boundaries and informal clusters and groupings of significant tree species.
There are five Hill’s Weeping Figs (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii). Two of these trees are of particularly large proportions and scale with canopies extending to 35 metres in diameter.
A mature and particularly large American Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is likely to be also part of this phase of embellishment during the Inter-War period.
A single Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens), located in the north-eastern corner of the park, is likely to pre-date the larger Hill’s Weeping Figs. This specimen is consistent with the northern NSW/ Queensland form of this species and has local significance in terms of its age and contribution to the park during its earliest phase of development.
The boundary to Primrose Avenue contains a single stunted Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), and two small Port Jackson Figs (Ficus rubiginosa f. rubiginosa). Although these trees are very small in stature and have minimal visual and aesthetic impact in the park, they may be of similar age to the scheduled Port Jackson Fig.
Significance
In combination, the five Hill’s Weeping Figs (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) have group significance at the local level in terms of aesthetic, historic and social values. Two of these trees are of particularly large proportions and scale with canopies extending to 35 metres in diameter.
A mature American Cottonwood (Populus deltoides) is likely to be part of this phase of embellishment during the Inter-War period.
The A single Port Jackson Fig (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens), located in the north-eastern corner of the park, is likely to just pre-date the larger Hill’s Weeping Figs.
Historical notes
The land in the area was first granted to William Hutchinson in 1823 but it was not until 1912 that the Town Planning Company of Australia purchased 273 Acres of the Waterloo Estate for 24000 pounds and large scale subdivision of the area took place. The main force behind the subdivision was Richard Stanton who had earlier success with the garden suburb of Haberfield. The varying size of the allotments reflected their intended usage. The larger lots were in the northern part of the subdivision and where the industrial buildings were constructed. The northern industrial areas were slow to develop with little development prior to 1924. (State Heritage Register).
This park appears to have evolved with a number of embellishments and additions since the Inter-War period (c.1915 – c.1940) and then later Post-War period (c.1945 – c.1960). Aerial photos from 1943 indicate that an intensive planting was undertaken during either 1942 or 1943. Numerous very small trees of similar age are dotted throughout the park. A few more established specimens are evident adjacent to Primrose Ave. at this time.
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