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Statement of Significance

These two specimens of Norfolk Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia subsp. patersonia) located on the ha-ha wall of the original Chirnside Homestead garden represent the distinctive 1860s style of garden design and planting. They reflect the early colonial desire to incorporate native evergreen trees in order to create a microclimate on the wind-swept Werribee Plains. These specimens were selected and planted circa 1860s when Thomas Chirnside's nephew, Robert Chirnside, was installed as Property Manager of Werribee Park (1859 - 1866). The Chirnside Family's contribution to Victoria's pastoral and agricultural growth was notable as leaders and pioneers of the colony's pastoral industry. Their vast land holdings in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Queensland made them one of the wealthiest families in the colony. The grandeur of their influence and wealth is reflected in their opulent Roman Renaissance Revival style mansion at Werribee Park and is stately garden.<BR>These specimens are outstanding in their complementary and uniform growth habits and dimensions. They formed an important part of a garden around the early homestead which typified mid-nineteenth century Victoria. They were planted on the edge of the ha-ha wall along with other perimeter tree and shrub plantings. These plantings were also surrounded by wire and iron fences. This indicates a very defensive approach to the surrounding environment. These dominant evergreen plantings were repeated in the mansion garden around 1877. Both this early homestead garden and the later mansion garden embody the strong English interest in prominent evergreen trees which was at its peak during the early nineteenth century. This interest in England was influenced by the botanical discoveries and specimens collected from North America by the Scottish botanist David Douglas (1799 - 1834).<BR>These two specimens of Norfolk Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia subsp. patersonia) represent some of the earliest specimen plantings of this species still in existence within Victoria from the mid-nineteenth century and hence they are classified at a State level.