Centenary of Rotary: Tree Planting by John Landy, AC, MBE, Governor of Victoria 

Wednesday 15 June 2005 at Rotary Park

In 1934, at the request of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, the City of Melbourne Council made available a small area in the King’s Domain for a Rotary Park of Remembrance, where trees could be planted or ‘dedicated’ to honour distinguished Rotarians or mark significant Rotary occasions.

Rotary Park is located in the south-east corner of the Domain, bounded by Birdwood Ave, Domain Rd, Anderson St and the Royal Botanic Gardens. A sketch plan of the park is available on the Rotary website, together with a list of the trees planted or dedicated, and the trees planted or dedicated are marked with bronze plaques. About half of the 65 trees in the Park are native Australian species and the remainder European, reflecting the diversity of native species and the history of Melburnians’ interests in trees.

The Park was inaugurated in March 1935 when Paul Harris, founder of Rotary, planted a Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus) that is today a fine specimen of this species. His wife, Mrs Jean Harris, also planted a tree on that occasion as did Angus Mitchell, the then District Governor and later first Australian President of Rotary International, and his wife, Mrs Teena Mitchell. Professor William Osborne, the Foundation President of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, and Alfred Holtz, a past President of the Club and past District Governor were other notables who planted trees on that occasion. Not all the trees survived the ravages of time and vandals, but replacements have been made, and the Park has become a much loved and used venue for walking, jogging, reading and sylvan contemplation.

Over the 70 years since Paul Harris and other notables planted those first six trees, a red granite seat has been erected as a memorial to the work of Paul Harris and Angus Mitchell, and a further 34 trees gave been planted or dedicated by:

• Sir Dallas Brooks, Governor of Victoria, marking the 50th year of Rotary,
• 22 Presidents of Rotary International,
• 8 District Governors who had previously served as Presidents of the Club,
• Tom Lothian, the last surviving charter member of the Club,
• Alfred Gifford, Chair of Rotary Park Committee 1971-8
• Royce Abbey, one as Vice-President and a second as President of Rotary International.

The City of Melbourne Council continues to manage and protect the Park, providing another example of the enduring and supportive relationship between the Rotary Club of Melbourne and the City of Melbourne. The Rotary Park Committee hopes that Melburnians will long continue to enjoy and respect this living piece of Rotary history.

Rotarians attended the tree planting in Rotary Park by John Landy AC, MBE on Wednesday, June 15, 2005 to commemorate 100 years of Rotary.

Click here to view/download a tree plan of Rotary Park

Click here to view/download a list of those who have had trees dedicated in their name and the types of trees that are planted in Rotary Park