Then: Chewton Pleasure and Flower Gardens, Circa 1850s. This image was sourced from the P. & O.R.A. collection. The Pleasure Gardens was once located on the corner of the Melbourne Road and Golden Point Road Chewton and was conducted in conjunction with Tom Meridith’s British and American Hotel, shown here on the right, which was built in 1854. The Gardens opened annually for the summer, and reportedly horse drawn omnibuses left from Castlemaine at 10 minute intervals. In the background, lines of grape vines and orchards line the hill and were accessible by paths lit by lanterns at night. There was an aviary as well as shaded summer houses with seats to rest on, dotted about the gardens. The Gardens also had a water fountain, an outdoor dance floor and a subterranean cavern.
Now: This modern day photograph shows the same area, but there is now little evidence of the old gardens. A monkey puzzle tree and a very large oak tree are visible in the centre of the image. The oak tree is on the state register and is one of the largest oak trees in Victoria. There is a large hole that was the subterranean cavern, and there are stone remains of a summer house, while the base of the water fountain is still visible near the oak tree. The tree behind the old hotel in the earlier image can now be identified as a large red gum. The two cypress trees in the centre foreground are also just visible hiding behind the fence in the earlier image. When the light is right the remains of the paths on the hill can still be seen. Images and historical details courtesy Ken McKimmie.