73 
municipal gardens, but their objective was that of 
providing public gardens rather than centres of plant 
introduction, trial and distribution. 
from 1875 F. M. Bailey had been botanist to a 
Board set up to enquire into diseases of livestock and 
plants in Queensland, and in December, 1880 he was 
appointed Acting Director of the Queensland Museum. 
\v lien Walter Hill retired from the Gardens Curatorship 
in 1881, the Botanical Library that had been housed in 
his cottage was moved out to Bailey’s room in the 
Museum basement. The Gardens had now definitely 
ceased to be the botanical centre of Queensland. They 
were put in charge of a head gardener, James Pink, and 
after lie retired in 1886, A. M. Cowan took over until 
1889. Some improvement in status was effected in that 
year, when P. McMahon was appointed Curator. The 
great flood of 1893 covered the lower parts of the Gardens 
and, apart from damage to the Bunya Pine avenue and 
other plantings, swept away a small building housing 
early records of introductions. In 1905, 3. F. Bailey, 
son of the Colonial Botanist, succeeded McMahon as 
Curator, and in 1912 was appointed Government 
Botanist as well. The Gardens again became the 
botanical centre of the State, the liebarium and Botanical 
Library being transferred to the building where they are 
still housed. When, in 1917, 3. F. Bailey went to 
Adelaide as Director of the Botanic Garden the position 
was divided. C. T. White, F. M. Bailey’s grandson, 
became Government Botanist and E. W. Bick, who had 
received his training with the Acclimatization Society at 
Bowen Park, became Curator of the Gardens. The Library 
stayed at the Herbarium. Though still under the control 
of the Department, of Agriculture, the Gardens had by 
this time more or less ceased to perform any of the 
special functions of the Department, In 1925 they were, 
handed over to the Brisbane City Council, and on E. W. 
Pick's retirement in 1910 they were handed to the 
administration of the Superintendent of Parks and 
Gardens, H. Moore. Under his regime and that of his 
successor, Mr. Barnsley, they were run on park lines. 
Trees considered superfluous were removed, and many 
were lopped or otherwise trimmed without regard to main- 
taining their natural form. There was considerable dis- 
satisfaction expressed at the time, and in 1946, their 
status was improved by the appointment of the present 
Curator, J. R. Bailey, son of J. F. Bailey, a former 
Curator J. R. Bailey had for some years been Curator 
cf the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens. 
