The new glasshouse (conservatory) in Belmore Park was officially opened by Goulburn Mayor Cr Max Hadlow at a brief ceremony on Saturday afternoon.
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The project was also given a financial boost of $6,750 by the Garden Clubs of Goulburn and their national parent bodies.
Council parks and recreation manager Tim Geyer introduced the speakers at the gathering in Belmore Park. He also gave some background information about the new greenhouse, which is the third built in the park.
Goulburn City Council gardener John Dixon said in 1951 when he first started working with Ken Hill, who was the head gardener for the park, there was a glasshouse on the Montague St side of the park.
The original greenhouse was hardly suitable and council did not have the money at the time to build a new one, however Charles Rogers and Sons donated money to build a new glasshouse.
Member for Burrinjuck Katrina Hogkinson, a descendant of the Rogers, continued the story.
“My great, great, great grandfather Charles Rogers, the founder of Rogers department store was a cabinet maker, not a very flamboyant character but a good hard worker.
“His son, Charles Rogers was much more flamboyant and was determined to leave his mark on Goulburn.”
They acquired substantial business holdings in Goulburn and the surrounding towns and cities and at the centenary of the of Rogers Department Store in 1959 it was decided to make a mark in Belmore Park.
“My great granny Bertha Rogers donated some money and together with the city council they constructed the glasshouse that stood in Belmore Park until a few months ago.”
Ms Hodgkinson said that the glasshouse had seen its day and council had made the right decision in constructing the new one.
She recognised the support and efforts of Goulburn’s garden clubs toward the project.
Ms Hodgkinson presented the city council with a photograph of the opening of the original glasshouse which showed Bertha Rogers, the Mayor at the time Mr JB Mullen and Sir Edmund Hillary who had recently returned from climbing Mt Everest.
Goulburn’s garden clubs and the National organisation presented the Goulburn City Council with a total of $6,750 toward the conservatory project.
Mayor Cr Max Hadlow thanked the garden clubs for their contribution and assured them that it would be put to good use.
He said he was proud of the effort by the City Council staff involved in the beautification of the park and preparing for the opening of the new greenhouse.
Katrina Hodgkinson also took the opportunity to refute the statement by the Local Government Minister over the financial situation of several NSW Councils including Goulburn.
“What the minister didn’t take into consideration was outstanding road funding from the State Government and money owed by the Department of Public Works to many of these councils.”
“I have faith that Goulburn Council is well on the way to recovery and is being managed in a financially proper manner,” she said.
