792 president's address. 



charge until 1889, when Mr. Philip McMahon was appointed 

 Curator. 



The great flood of 1893, in its haste to reach the sea, without 

 winding round the Gardens, swept across the peninsula, on which 

 they are situated, greatly damaged the noble bunya avenue and 

 all the lower portion of the grounds, landed the Government gun- 

 boat in their midst, and left the place in a most deplorable state : 

 a second flood carried the gunboat back into the river, but, of 

 course, otherwise increased the general desolation, from which, 

 however, the place has since entirely recovered. 



One of the features, which greatly popularises the gardens, is a 

 beautiful kiosk, where morning bathers can obtain excellent 

 breakfasts, and ladies give delightful al fresco tea parties in the 

 afternoon. 



McMahon has continued enthusiastically to carry out the idea 

 of making the Gardens, which now cover about 37 acres, as nearly 

 ideally tropical as the climate will allow. 



Melbourne. 



In 1842, Mr. Hoddle, Surveyor-General of Port Phillip (now 

 Victoria), was instructed to survey 50 acres of land in Melbourne, 

 including the site of the present Spencer-street railway station, 

 as a site for a Botanical Garden, but nothing further seems to 

 have been done till 1845, when, at the instance of the Town 

 Council, the present site, on the south bank of the Yarra, was 

 substituted for the original one, and in 1846 placed under the 

 control of Mr. Henry Ginn, Colonial Architect. 



In 1847, Mr. John Arthur was appointed superintendent, and 

 commenced operations by fencing in and planting about 5 acres, 

 his management of which reflected great credit upon his skill and 

 industry. 



Arthur died in 1849, and Mr. John Dallachy succeeded him ; 

 but Mueller, then Colonial Botanist, having been allowed gradu- 

 ally to assume control, was appointed Director, and Dallachy 

 then became Curator, until his retirement about 1861. 



