While some towns are renown for their public gardens, it has been many years since Thames boasted anything along those lines.
This is not to say there aren't some lovely flower beds and displays around the town. For instance the plants along Queen Street from the wharf to Richmond Street are usually a 'picture', as is the Rotary Park area at the Thames Library, and the roundabout at Mary Street also well planted. These days the varieties used range from flowers to edible herbs depending on the season.
In the early days of the Thames Goldfield, there were spectacular gardens at Tararu, first planted by property developer Robert Graham. Spencer's also had a popular garden area at Parawai, that locals visited regularly. The Parawai Gardens also provided sporting grounds that were popular for the many athletic and sporting events held by the down.
In more modern times, without doubt the most prized garden was at the Moanataiari, known as Meonstoke, and the hard work of the late Pam Gwynne.
Thames Museum & Reserve Garden:
At the end of 1983, plans were approved to build a new museum on part of the old Central School site. The rest is history!!!
Thirty-five years later, the gardens that surround the Thames Museum, at the corner of Cochrane & Pollen Streets are maintained by the dedicated gardeners from the local council. The plantings vary, if you are coming to town in the near future check out this seasons 'beauties'. Sadly the cycle continues and within weeks they will be replaced by a new rotation of plants.
Cochrane Street flower border and the Pollen Street flower bed on the right.
Then & Now: Left, West's Blacksmith Shop, now the site of the entrance to Museum and the Central School WWI Cenotaph. (right)
Then & Now: The courtyard garden at the north end of the Thames Museum, now known as the Women's Suffragette Garden 1893-1993.
Front of the Thames Museum, entrance on the right.
