The Zoological Gardens 1858

The proposed plan for the Zoological Gardens which was to be established in the southern-most part of the Richmond Paddock, now roughly the site of AAMI park. The plan was created in 1858 by architects, Purchas & Swyer and engraved by Frederick Grosse.In the top left-hand corner Jolimont Road can be seen leading down to the Yarra bank.  At the foot of the road a ferry can be seen crossing the river.  This would be close to where the Swan Street bridge is now.  The river extends to the east in a deep curve leading to the newly completed footbridge which led to the Botanic Gardens.  The river was straightened in 1899 and the Morrell Bridge was built at the same time in a similar position.

The Suburban Railway is marked on the map, but was yet to be built.  The line was completed in early 1859.  It was built by the Melbourne and Suburban Railway Company and ran from Prince's Bridge to Punt Road.

The original of this map is held by the National Library of Australia [see link below]

Another version of the map is held by the State Library of Victoria [see link below] It is not available on line but the record gives the information that it was reproduced in the Victorian Horticultural and Agricultural Gazette, April 1858.

The plan was accompanied by the report of the Zoological Society which was printed in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser [see link below].  Part of the report gives a description of the plan, as below:

Since our last report of the proceedings of this Society, its progress has been most felicitous. Early in this year the Committee of Management received from the Government the lot of land which had been promised for the purpose of forming a Zoological Garden in the vicinity of Melbourne ; this portion of the Government Reserve situated at the foot of Richmond Paddock, containing about thirty acres of land, extending along the river Yarra opposite the Botanical Gardens, from the second Ferry on the river to within a few yards of the New Bridge now being erected from Richmond Paddock into the Botanical Gardens ; it contains within its area a small lagoon admirably adapted for fish and waterfowl; it is also prettily situated, embracing, within its limits a deep curvature of the Yarra and is well stocked with fine old forest trees. It is the intention of the Society to take advantage of the situation for the benefit of the Public, by having at one side, an entrance gate close to the ferry, within a short walk of the city, whilst another gate will open at the foot of the bridge leading into the Botanical Gardens, and not far from Richmond. Immediately upon receiving possession of the land tenders were publicly called for, for the purpose of fencing it round, and a contract having been made, the work was immediately commenced, and at the present moment the Gardens are enclosed ; the land has been again more minutely surveyed, and Mr Purchase has undertaken to draw a plan of the Gardens that will be with the full estimate of the probable expenditure. This plan when fully approved of will be at once carried out and a lithograph of it forwarded to every Subscriber through the liberality of one of the founders of the Society ( Mr Edgar Kay), the patriotic proprietor of “Punch,” and the " Evening Mail." A beautiful wood cut has been presented to the Society suitably engraved and embellished on all Subscribers' tickets, and books of the Society. …