50 J. H. MAIDEN. 



established facing Farm Cove, the actual site of the Sydney 

 Botanic Gardens. 



The especially interesting character of the plants of New 

 Holland soon became known in England, and the directors 

 of botanical establishments and proprietors of nurseries 

 competed eagerly for seeds and plants of this country. 

 Plant "cabbins," tubs, and closed casks of living plants 

 and seeds were shipped to Sydney by every opportunity 

 and exchanges made. Thus at a minimum cost the best 

 products of horticulture were despatched to Port Jackson, 

 and although the mortality in transit was exceedingly great, 

 the collections in the Sydney gardens rapidly advanced. 



Heward, the friend and executor of Allan Cunningham, 

 King's Botanist, and afterwards Superintendent of the 

 Sydney Botanic Garden, told the elder Hooker that the 

 Sydney Botanic Garden was "probably founded shortly 

 after Governor Macquarie's arrival in 1809," but I will 

 show presently that a somewhat later date is better. 



In the year 1813 Mrs. Macquarie's Road, referred to in 

 the inscription on Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, was commenced. 

 This road was of a total length of three miles and thirty- 

 seven yards, measured from the Obelisk in Macquarie Place. 

 The road encircled the Domain, as then defined, and from 

 the Chair to old Government House gates it passed through 

 the present garden, e.g., from the vicinity of Mr. Overseer 

 Camfield's present house, along the north side of the stone 

 wall. The old stone wall had therefore been constructed 

 some time prior to the year 1813 — I do not know the 

 precise date. Mrs. Macquarie's Road was finally com- 

 pleted on June 13th, 1816. Besides that on the Chair, the 

 inscription " Mrs. Macquarie's Road, 1816," may still be 

 seen on a rock on the left hand side of the road up the slope 

 after leaving the Corporation Baths. 



