Coleraine

Eric Hammond – master stone mason and renowned landscaper

Eric H Hammond worked with renowned Melbourne garden designer Edna Walling in building many of Melbourne’s well-known gardens for over forty years. Eric created a successful landscaping business at Coleraine in Hill St, Box Hill South (now 19 Hill St, Box Hill South) that operated as E H Hammond next door to his home at 21 Hill St for over fifty years - yet he is relatively unknown in Whitehorse.

There has been no biography or story written about Eric H Hammond or of the contributions he made to the cultural, horticultural and landscape heritage not only of Box Hill but also of wider Melbourne and Australia.

I am hopeful that this contribution may go in some way to shed light on Eric’s contributions.

In The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens, Anne Latreille mentions:

‘Eric Herbert Hammond (1898-1992), landscape constructor, … was known for his meticulous attention to detail and for his technical expertise. In its heyday the E.H. Hammond organisation, employing 50 people, was said to be the largest such firm in Australia’.

I am very grateful to Stuart Riley for his time in sharing his insights, knowledge, archival material and experiences of working with and for Eric Hammond at E H Hammond. Stuart was employed by E H Hammond as an apprentice in 1978 and worked in the business until 1983. He then went onto to form his own garden landscaping business with a former employee of E H Hammond and currently enjoys a successful career operating SR Horticulture in Surrey Hills.

The Hammond family

Eric H Hammond was born in South Yarra in 1898 - the son of Edwin and Mary Hammond (nee Taylor).

Eric was a Senior Cadet for two years in the 47th Battalion in Malvern and also two years in the 45th Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) in South Melbourne.

On 29 July 1918 Eric enlisted at Broadmeadows in the AIF and on his enlistment papers his occupation is listed as ‘student’.

At the time of his enlistment Eric was a ‘minor’ and therefore the ‘State Recruitment Committee of Victoria’ contacted Eric’s parents to find out if they approved of their son’s enlistment or not. They signed a document stating that they did not approve as he was their ‘only son’, but then 2 days later sent a letter to the committee withdrawing their objections. Eric’s enlistment was finally confirmed and he went to camp for training - where on the first day he was seen as a ‘promising recruit’.

In early November he travelled to Sydney where he boarded the troopship S.S. Carpentaria headed for Europe. On route the S.S. Carpentaria was recalled and all of the troops were transferred to the ship S.S. Riverina.

This voyage of the S.S. Carpentaria is mentioned in a biography of Edward Macgregor published by the State Library of Queensland. Private Edward Macgregor was on the S.S Carpentaria at the same time as Eric Hammond and his biography mentions:

‘The troops were recalled to Australia and the men were trans-shipped to SS Riverina, berthed at Auckland, reaching Sydney on 28 November 1918. After a quarantine period of 'isolation' in the harbour for 7 days, the men were released and returned by train to their place of enlistment. Many of the recalled troops were young, as was Edward McGregor, unable to enlist earlier until they reached the appropriate age, or parental consent had been given, many had waited several years for this opportunity’.

World War 1 had ended on the 11 November 1918 and Eric was discharged in December that same year.

In January 1919 Eric lodged an application for a Qualification Certificate to apply for Crown Land in regard to a land grant under the ‘Discharged Soldier’s Settlement Scheme’. The application was for 100 acres of land in Mooroolbark and by July his application was successful. On his application he mentions that he holds a ‘Q.C. for Fruit Growing’.

In 1919 the Hammond family were living on a farm in Kilsyth called Fairlea with Eric’s occupation at this time listed as ‘orchardist’ and his father’s as ‘gardener’.

In The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens, Anne Latreille mentions of Eric that ‘in 1922 he set up as a landscape contractor’ yet in the 1922 and 1923 directory Eric is still listed as living in Kilsyth and that his occupation is still listed as ‘orchardist’. It appears that Eric’s gardening business may have taken a while to develop and as such Eric lived and worked as an orchardist on his family’s farm in Kilsyth whilst he still owned the 100 acres in Mooroolbark.

In 1921 Edna Walling had bought three acres of land at Mooroolbark and began building her first home, Sonning. Around this time Mooroolbark was a rural village dominated by small and large farm/orchards. In the book The Unusual life of Edna Walling by Sara Hardy it mentions:

‘Mooroolbark local residents took a good humoured if quizzical interest in developments. It did not take long for everyone to know who Edna was and what she was attempting. The young woman in jodhpurs was endearingly dubbed ‘Trousers’ by one of the council members, which is why her private road later became known a ‘Trousers Lane’.

Eric and Edna’s properties were approximately 4 kms apart. Did Edna Walling and Eric Hammond first meet while they both lived/worked in Mooroolbark so close to each other in this small community? Both appear to have had land and worked in Mooroolbark whilst also living elsewhere?

There appears to be some discussion as to precisely when Eric Hammond and Edna Walling first met and worked together, as different sources mention them working together at various times between 1922 and 1928. As with many relationships - business or otherwise, interactions usually evolve over time assisted by interest and proximity.

Anne Latreille wrote a wonderful article about the life of Eric Hammond in The Age newspaper on December 8, 1992 where she mentions:

‘He began his business in 1922, operating from a room in Malvern on a bicycle specially adopted to carry a pick, a shovel and a bag of cement’.

In August 1923 the first advertisement appeared in The Argus newspaper for Eric’s first gardening business and the contact details listed were 61 Andrew St, Windsor and the Astor florist at ‘Camberwell Junction’.

In The Australasian newspaper in 1923 Erics business is also listed as E H Hammond - Landscape and Gardening Contractor (Late A.I.F) and operated from 61 Andrew St in Windsor.

In her book ‘The unusual life of Edna Walling’ by Sara Hardy she mentions:

‘from December 1923 he was advertising himself as a Landscape Gardening Contractor in The Home Gardener, with a city address in Windsor (near South Yarra where the Walling’s lived). Either way he was not far from Edna’s activities’.

Times may have been hard for Eric when in February, 1924 Eric’s Soldiers Settlement Scheme ‘Conditional Purchase Lease’ regarding the land in Mooroolbark states:

‘Recommended that the lease be declared void for nonpayment of instalments’.

Also, in 1924 Eric was working with the renowned garden designer Edna Walling. In that same year Edna designed a garden for Mr G.G. Sergeant of Riverswood in Warrandyte – this maybe the first garden they worked on together as mentioned in Sarah Hardy’s book The unusual life of Edna Walling, ‘The two didn’t officially work together until 1924, by which time Eric Hammond had moved to the city, but he clearly had links with Edna’s part of the countryside. He may well have heard about the woman known as ‘Trousers’.

The City of Whitehorse Heritage Properties Review 2006 mentions:

‘Walling met Hammond while both were working on garden developments at the Royal Melbourne Zoological Gardens’ which was in 1928.

The actual date of when Eric and Edna started working together still seems to be open for discussion until further more concrete evidence is found.

A little about Edna Walling

Edna Walling was a landscape designer who was instrumental in the development of an Australian garden style. She was one of the first women to qualify in horticulture after studying at the Burnley School of Horticulture in Melbourne. After graduating she was employed as a ‘jobbing gardener’ (odd garden jobs for different clients) and eventually as a ‘garden designer’ with many commissions.

In her designs she drew inspiration from the Australian bush to create a naturalistic landscape using Australian native plants to great effect. Edna was a prolific and influential writer on horticulture and gardens in popular magazines, newspapers and books including Gardens in Australia (1943) and A gardener's log (1948). Many of her garden plans are in the collections of the State Library of Victoria.

In 1924 Eric and his family were listed as living in Chelsea in Victoria, with Eric and his father Edwin’s occupation both listed as ‘gardener’.

Eric Hammond married Elsie Langley the daughter of Robert and Emily Langley (nee Howard) in 1924. Elsie’s occupation was listed as ‘teacher’ and her family also lived on an orchard/farm in Mooroolbark. Eric and Elsie had three children - Leonard, Robert and Margery. Also, in 1924 Eric and Elsie moved to Nhill as their daughter Margery was born there and where Eric continued to work as a ‘gardener’.

By 1925 Eric was living in Box Hill as he is mentioned in the book The Vision of Edna Walling by Trisha Dixon and Jennie Churchill as being the builder of the ‘Hannaford Garden, Court St, Box Hill, Vic...Mr H Hannaford.... c.1925’.

In 1926 Eric’s occupation is now listed as ‘contractor’.

In 1929 Eric built a beautiful garden that Edna Walling designed at his home at 19 Hill Street, Box Hill South; the remnants of this garden can still be seen today at this property. In the City of Whitehorse Heritage Properties Review 2006 mentions:

‘Walling prepared a garden plan for Hammond, who lived at Hill Street Box Hill, in c1929. Sections of this garden and planting remain intact’.

In the book The Vision of Edna Wallingby Trisha Dixon and Jennie Churchill they mention that the garden at 19 Hill St, Box Hill South was designed by Edna Walling and was built by Eric Hammond. It also mentions ‘Hammond, Mr E.H...Hill St, Box Hill Vic....c.1929’ which at this time the house was known as Coleraine. In the book Making Landscape Architecture in Australia written by Dr Andrew Saniga he mentions:

‘The courtyard design of the house at Hill Street foreshadowed Grounds’ design for the National Gallery of Victoria’.

In 1930 Eric appeared in newspaper advertisements promoting the Chevrolet Six Express Delivery utility truck.

In 1942 Eric (now 44 years of age) enlisted in the Australian Military Forces and was posted part time to the 3rd Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps. The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens mentions that:

‘According to YMCA historian, John Bindon, Hammond had an ongoing relationship with the YMCA. He was a YMCA representative, working in home services at RAAF training camps. During 1944 he worked at RAAF camps at Ascot Vale, Tocumwal, Lake Boga and then Somers (Pers. comm., Lois Young, 4 Aug 2019). He also worked for the YMCA in New Guinea, and finally, in August 1945, he arrived at the Sale RAAF base to re-organise the services of the YMCA Rest Room (Gippsland Times, 6 Aug 1945:1)’.

‘In April 1950, Hammond was in discussion with the Shoreham Camp Committee through Mr R.R Way, the founder of Camp Buxton regarding the use of natural stone for the construction of the chapel (YMCA Melbourne 1946 - 1948)’. ‘He provided advice on the layout and use of stone in constructing the Chapel’.

When the chapel was completed, it was named the Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Camp Buxton and was dedicated to the members of the Camp who were killed or who had served in the forces during World War II.

Eric had obviously been quietly building a highly respected landscaping business over many years.

In the mid 1950’s Melbourne’s first ‘skyscraper’ known at the time as the I.C.I building (now Orica House) was built at 1 to 4 Nicholson St, East Melbourne and Eric Hammond undertook the construction of its landscaping. In the book Making Landscape Architecture in Australia written by Dr Andrew Saniga it is mentioned:

‘As landscape consultant for BSM’s ICI house (1955–58), Stevens’ office in association with BSM designed an intricately sculpted open space and plaza to compensate for its being the first building exceeding Melbourne’s 132-foot height limit. It was constructed by Eric Hammond.’

In 1956 Eric’s firm carried out the re-turfing of the Melbourne Cricket Ground before and after the Olympic Games. Also in the same year the firm of E H Hammond was commissioned to undertake the landscaping of the gardens at I.C.I’s new research laboratories in Ascot Vale.

The extent of the expansion of the firm of E H Hammond into many areas of landscaping both domestic and commercial is seen when Edna Walling writes to Eric Hammond outlining her concerns about the effect this could have on their longstanding business relationship. Sara Hardy in her book The Unusual life of Edna Walling mentions that ‘He knew all her methods. All her tricks’ and this is highlighted in a 1959 letter from Edna Walling to Eric Hammond which mentions:

‘I feel sure that you will not misunderstand me when I ask you not to give too much away in your association with other landscape designers.

Having been practically the sole contractor of my jobs during almost a lifetime of work you have been in a unique position, and I would not like our happy association to be marred by any feeling of resentment on my part for the sake of a mere word of appeal…….

It must always be remembered that ideas are one thing and their right application is another. You will, I know, also realise that discrimination in the matter of these ideas and experiences is rather important to me’.

Obviously, Eric was able to allay Edna’s concerns as they continued to work together for many years whilst he undertook other commissions.

Community involvement

Not only did Eric run a successful landscaping business but he was also involved in the Box Hill community.

Box Hill Church of Christ

Eric was a member of the Box Hill Church of Christ for many years and also a ‘song leader’. The Box Hill Church of Christ is located at 12-16 Court St and is now known as the Evangelical Community Church Inc.

Eric was also a member of the Box Hill Church of Christ cricket team. He is first mentioned in October 1926 in The Reporter Box Hill newspaper in regard to a match between the Box Church of Christ and Highfield Road Methodists cricket teams, the Methodists won by 106 on the first innings.

Box Hill Football Club

From 1958 Eric and his family were involved with the Box Hill Football Club in a number of positions.

In the book The Charge of the White Horse Brigade – A History of the Box Hill Football Club by John Ure and Armin Richter, 2016 it is mentioned that:

‘In each year of Eric Hammond’s Presidency he was the Club’s major donor with £50 apart from the £250 he donated in 1960 when the Club found itself in financial difficulty. These were considerable sums of money for the time’. *

Eric Hammond

Club President: 1958 to 1962

Management Committee: 1951 to 1965

Other Honours: Life Member of B.H.F.C. (1958)

Eric Hammond was a member of Box Hill’s Management Committee for the first fifteen years of the Club’s membership of the V.F.A.; including five years as President. His Presidency was defined by his steadfast opposition to Sunday football, introduced by the V.F.A. in 1960, on religious and social grounds and the Club refused to play on Sundays until the mid-1960s. He ran a successful landscape gardening business and was a strong financial supporter of the Club for many years well before the concept of corporate sponsorship was invented. * These were quite a significant amount’s when the average weekly wage in 1960 was $40.00.

‘His son Robert [Bob] Hammond played Senior football for Box Hill during its first 2 seasons [1951 and 1952] in the Victorian Football Association. In total he played 14 VFA games and scored 3 goals’.

An article in The Age newspaper in August 1951 in regard to Robert Hammond mentions:

‘Box Hill star wingman Hammond has been shifted to roving’.

Also in the book The Charge of the White Horse Brigade – A History of the Box Hill Football Club by John Ure and Armin Richter, 2016 it is amentioned that:

‘His grandson Gary Hammond was a champion full forward for Camberwell (VFA) in the 1970s and early 1980s; in all scoring 698 goals from 162 matches, topping the ton in 1975 [112], 1976 [120] and 1977 [128]’.

In 1960 the renowned Melbourne architect Robin Boyd designed The Fountain Gate Estate in Narre Warren and the landscaping was undertaken by the firm of E.H. Hammond. Also in the same year the firm was also commissioned to build the Science Courtyard at Monash University. In the book Making Landscape Architecture in Australia written by Dr Andrew Saniga mentions:

‘In 1967 the Grounds Committee described the design and construction of the Science Courtyard at Monash as faultless’.

In c1962 the firm of E.H. Hammond was commissioned to undertake the landscaping of the gardens at the newly built The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.

In the book Making Landscape Architecture in Australia written by Dr Andrew Saniga, he mentions:

‘Hammond and Wilson’s design for an internal display garden in a South Melbourne factory showroom in the mid-1960s was confronting in its displacement of place and time. Sealed behind glazing and removed from direct light and rain, it was a fragment of dry creek bed replete with water-worn pebbles and gravel’.

In 1964 members of the Institute of Landscape Architects of Great Britain were looking at forming a professional organisation of landscape architects in Australia. By 1966 the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects was formed and Eric Hammond was one of its first affiliate members, becoming an honorary fellow in 1974. Eric was also a Foundation Associate of the Landscape Contractors' Association of Victoria.

In 1969 the firm of E.H. Hammond was commissioned to design the internal courtyard for the E.R. Squibb and Sons building (now demolished) in Noble Park.

In the Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Camp Buxton, Shoreham Conservation Management Plan in regard to the Eastern Freeway mentions:

‘Important construction projects included the forecourt of the ICI Building …, the surface of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the 1956 Olympic Games, and the Eastern Freeway landscape in the early 1970s’.

The firm of E H Hammond appears to have been awarded diverse landscaping contracts which included the Victoria Barracks, as can be seen in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 1972 under the section titled ‘Contracts Arranged – Victoria Barracks, (Defence) – Landscaping. Value $1062. E.H. Hammond, Box Hill, Vic’. This was quite a significant contract at a price of $1062 when the median house price in Melbourne in 1972 was $15,000.

Elsie Hammond died in Box Hill in 1975.

In 1987 Eric received the Victorian Landscape Contractors Association’s inaugural award for a distinguished contribution to the landscape industry.

In regard to the last years of Eric Hammonds life, a former employee of E H Hammond Stuart Riley mentions:

‘when he had gone into care he had a little garden of his own and he used to give advice to all the other people who were in the facility, he was a gardener to the day he died’.

Eric Hammond died in 1992 in Heidelberg West.

The children of Eric and Elsie Hammond

Leonard ‘Len’ Hammond

Leonard Hammond was born in Box Hill in 1931, his occupation is later listed as ‘contractor’.

In 1951 Leonard Hammond and Shirley J Yeomans were married at the Church of Christ, Box Hill. Shirely was the daughter of William and Nellie Yeomans (nee Arrowsmith). Leonard and Shirley had two children Gary and Colin.

Later Leonard and Shirley Hammond went into partnership trading as E H Hammond and Son, a cartage business based on Warrandyte Rd, Templestowe. The site is still there and is run as Aumann's Building and Garden Supplies since 2004.

In 1952 article in The Argus newspaper in regard to an accident at the Templestowe site mentions:

‘Man Digs Out Buried Mate –

Burrowing his way through the earth, one of two men buried under a landslide yesterday struggled to the surface- then clawed his way through the tons of soil to rescue his mate’.

The man Leonard Hammond,21 years, of Hill – street, Box hill ran 200 yards to the nearest house and called a doctor.

His friend Leonard Boreham, 17 year of Station St Box Hill was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital with a fractured leg, arm and rib.

Hammond was treated for shock and abrasions and allowed to return home.

The two men were quarrying earth for landscape gardening at an open cut in Templestowe.’

Bent double, they were cutting their way under a 10-foot ledge when the earth over them collapsed.

Hammond fought his way clear, and heard Boreham shouting for help.

He trampled over Boreham’s buried body several times before locating him.

Then, using his bare hands he dug away nearly a ton of earth to free him.

Boreham, heavily bandaged in his cot at St Vincent’s Hospital, said last night: “I owe my life to Hammond. He’s certainly a wonderful mate.

But although I am luck to be alive, I’ve still got a grouch.

“The boss was going to take me off quarrying on Monday. You can sure be stiff”.

Directory records show that Leonard and his family lived at 94 Rostrevor Pde, Mont Albert North from c1954 to 1977. An aerial photo of 94 Rostrevor Pde taken in 1951 shows the foundations of a house being built.

Along the western side of the front garden of 94 Rostrevor Pde there is a stone retaining wall that runs from north to south then east along the northern side of the driveway to the house. Was this stone retaining wall and the house built by the firm of E H Hammond? Further investigations are required?

The firm of E H Hammond and Son – cartage contractors supplied the soil for the returfing of the MCG before and after the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games. A former employee of E H Hammond Stuart Riley mentions:

‘when Eric got the contract for the 56 Olympics Len used to talk about all the soil because they had to raise the height of the MCG for the running tracks and all the rest of it’

‘that meant an enormous amount of soil coming in and out so it totally transformed Len’s business. Len went from a business that had a couple of trucks on the road delivering sand and soil, he ended up with a fleet of trucks’.

Robert ‘Bob’ Hammond

Robert Hammond also known as ‘Bob’ was born in Box Hill in 1926. His occupation later is listed as ‘carpenter’, but Robert later worked in his father’s business in the position of ‘manager’ running the office and organising client projects.

In 1948 Robert Hammond and Marie Yeomans were married at the Church of Christ, Box Hill. Marie was the daughter of William and Nellie Yeomans (nee Arrowsmith). Robert and Marie had three children Glenda, Dennis and Adrian.

In the book The Charge of the White Horse Brigade – A History of the Box Hill Football Club by John Ure and Armin Richter, 2016 mentions:

‘His son Robert [Bob] Hammond played Senior football for Box Hill during it’s first 2 seasons [1951 and 1952] in the Victorian Football Association. In total he played 14 VFA games and scored 3 goals’.

An article in The Age newspaper in August 1951 mentions:

‘Box Hill - Star wingman Hammond has been shifted to roving’.

In his 2010 article titled Writing and Reflecting, Glen Wilson mentions in regards to Robert Hammond’s position at the firm of E H Hammond:

‘whilst son Bob (who died only recently) was our specialist with playing fields, running tracks, tennis courts, and trained one of our foremen to specialise in this work’.

Glen Wilson commenced his career in landscape design in the late 1950’s. Prior to working for Eric Hammond, Glen worked for Edna Walling from 1958 to 1959 as a ‘paying student’ and later involved him ‘with some of her jobs, mainly planting’. Edna suggested to Eric Hammond that he should employ Glen. Glen then worked for the firm E H Hammond from approximately 1962 to 1970.

Margery Hammond

Margery Hammond was born in Nhill in 1924.

In 1946 Margery Hammond and Kenneth Davies were married at the Church of Christ, Box Hill. Kenneth was the son of Charles and Emily Davies (nee Harris). Margery and Kenneth had two children Paul and Wayne.

According to Stuart Riley, Margery Hammond was not involved in the family business.

Well known garden designers who worked for Eric H Hammond

Rodger Elliot

Rodger Elliot is Australia’s foremost authority on Australian native plants.

Rodger was born in Echuca in 1941, his parents were Rae and Gladys Elliot (nee Dudley). Living in a household where both his parents were keen gardeners inspired Rodger’s interest in plants and gardening. At the age of 7 he created his own vegetable garden in his parent’s poultry farm in Glenroy. At around the age of eight his maternal grandparents were also living on the farm and he spent time helping his grandfather breed Dahlia’s and Gladioli.

His interest in native plants became stronger after spending time bushwalking around Victoria and inspired him to research and learn more about them which led him into propagating them. Around this time, he was studying Applied Chemistry at Royal Melbourne Technical College as well as running a garden maintenance business in the Croydon area where his family lived. He advertised his services in the Croydon Mail newspaper and was contacted by the renowned garden designer Edna Walling.

In an article in THE BOTANIC GARDENer magazine, 2019 Rodger mentions:

‘At that stage Edna was gradually reducing her garden design workload but she needed someone to do small landscape tasks for her clients’. Later Edna suggested ‘that I was wasting my time doing Applied Chem (which I must say I was not really enjoying). She said that she could get full time employment for me. My reaction was that ‘you had better talk to my parents as they are funding my studies. Initially unbeknown to me she did just that and convinced them that all would be fine and she set up an interview with E. H. Hammond, Victoria’s and perhaps Australia’s largest landscape company’.

After his interview at E H Hammond’s Rodger started with the firm in 1961. He also worked with another future luminary of the gardening world Glen Wilson. In an article in THE BOTANIC GARDENer magazine, 2019 regarding Glen Wilson working at E H Hammond’s, Rodger mentions:

‘So I started at Hammonds in 1961 and was so fortunate to be working with Glen Wilson, another Australian plant nut and a wonderful landscape designer’.

Rodger Elliot and his family moved to Croydon around 1958. Rodger later attended a local youth club where he met his future wife Gwendoline (Gwen) Parry. They were engaged in January 1963 and married in August of that year.

In regards to working at E H Hammond’s, Rodger mentions:

‘Hammonds was a marvellous place to work as you learnt so much about soil types, drainage levels, paving, retaining walls, pruning as well as plants by working on very small jobs up to large landscape constructions such as at the new Royal Children’s Hospital’.

Over the last 60 years Rodger and Gwen have become highly regarded and well respected in the areas of plants in particular Australian natives.

In the late 1950’s they created the Austroflora Nursery in Croydon and in 1968 they moved to Montrose (in 1973 leased the nursery to an employee). Also, on the same site they created a specialist propagation nursery to supply the growing demand for tubestock by wholesale nurseries in Victoria. The Austroflora Nursery ceased operations in 1982.

In the mid 1970’s they were involved with the development of the University of California Santa Cruz & Botanic Garden and supplied most of the Australian plants.

In 1986 Rodger served as a Councillor with the Australian Flora Foundation (AFF).

From 1999 to 2002 Rodger was a Board member of the Royal Botanical Gardens. Rodger and Gwen have authored and co-authored 35 books mainly on Australian plants. They have been involved with the Australian Plant Society, the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens, the Australian Garden at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show, Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens and the Australian Garden History Society.

In 2001 Rodger and Gwen Elliot were awarded membership of the Order of Australia (AM) in recognition of their outstanding roles in the promotion of Australian flora. At this time Roger and Gwen were living in Heathmont, Victoria. Gwen as group leader and Rodger as photographer were involved with the Epacris Study Group in Heathmont from c1998 to 2013 when they moved to Berwick to be closer to the Cranbourne Botanical Gardens.

On the Australian Native Plants Society website in regards to the Epacris Study Group mentions:

‘This Group was formed with the aim of studying the cultivation and propagation of the genus Epacris, a member of the large heath Family of plants (the Ericaceae), so that more species could be seen in gardens. The Group commenced in 1992 and closed in 2015’.

In 2014 they were awarded the Horticultural Media Association's Gold Laurel and inducted into its Hall of Fame.

In 2015 His Excellency the Honourable Alex Chernov AC QC, Governor of Victoria, officially opened the Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne's new facilities. The new facilities include The Elliot Centre named after Rodger and Gwen Elliot, long-time supporters of the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne.

Rodger's other awards include the Australian Institute of Horticulture's Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contribution to Horticulture, the Australian Natural History Medallion and the Gold Veitch Memorial Medallion from the Royal Horticultural Society (UK).

In July 2023 Rodger and Gwen received the Handbury Award - Category One for ‘Many achievements in fostering botanic gardens not only at Cranbourne, but also in Victoria nationally and internationally, their advocacy and promotion of gardens, as well as engaging professional and volunteers, extensive writing about Australian native plants, and significant fundraising’.

Rodger and Gwen are currently continuing their involvement with the Botanical Gardens Cranbourne.

Below is a link to an interview of Rodger and Gwen that was aired on Gardening Australiain 2017.

My Garden Path - Gwen and Rodger Elliot - Gardening Australia (abc.net.au)

Glen Wilson (also known as Glenie Wordsworth Wilson)

Glen Wilson was born in Adelaide in 1927, his parents were Alfred and Kathleen Wilson (nee Glenie). In an article in the Australian garden History magazine 2015 Glens nephew mentions:

‘My uncle Glenie Wordsworth Wilson (born in Adelaide on 13 September 1927) was named for his mother’s family name and his father’s favourite poet – and he was never known as anything but Glen! His father died when Glen was only nine, leaving the family destitute during the Great Depression. He was a latecomer to garden design and landscaping, after earlier serving a trade apprenticeship’.

Glen’s father Alfred Wilson was very active in the union and social justice movements in the early part of the twentieth century. You can read the fascinating story of Arthur W Wilson here:

Biography - Alfred William (Alf) Wilson - People Australia (anu.edu.au)

In his book Making landscape Architecture in Australia Mark Saniga mentions:

‘It was the discovery of a native plant display garden at Bernhardt and Dulcie Schubert’s nursery in Noble Park, south-east Melbourne that inspired Glen Wilson to embark on a career in landscape design, commencing in the late 1950s’.

In the Australian Garden History, 2002 in regard to Bernhardt and Dulcie Schubert it mentions:

‘Since the Second World War six major nurseries have supported the growth in Australian flora. When Bernhardt and Dulcie Schubert started their nursery in Noble Park in the mid 1940’s there were few growers of native species. Their nursery was a supplier to people like Edna Walling, Ellis Stones and Eric Hammond as well as an inspiration to many others’. The nursery is now called Schuberts’ Nursery and still operating at the same location in Noble Park.

Glen Wilson commenced his career working for Edna Walling from 1958 to 1959 as a ‘paying student’ and later involved him ‘with some of her jobs, mainly planting’. Edna suggested to Eric Hammond that he should employ Glen. Glen worked for the firm E H Hammond in constructing, planting large gardens and landscapes from approximately 1962 to 1970.

In the Australian Garden History, 2015 in regard to Glen’s time working with Edna Walling and at E H Hammond it mentions:

‘Glen worked and studied with Walling, and adopted many of her philosophies in the use of space and natural settings, and so began his love of Australian plants and knowledge of how they should be used to develop and Australian character in landscape design. With EH Hammond, he built on these planning and design skills by constructing and planting large gardens and landscapes, sharing his love of Australian plants with others who have been his lifelong friends and colleagues’

In 1960 Edna Walling designed a garden containing only Australian native plants in Kew for Mr and Mrs M Freiberg. The building of this garden was done by Eric Hammond and the plantings were done by Glen Wilson. This was the first time Eric Hammond and Glen Wilson worked together and led to Glen working for Eric Hammond as an estimator, supervisor and designer for eight years gaining valuable knowledge and confidence.

By the late 1960s Glen was a lecturer in landscape construction for the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) postgraduate diploma course in landscape design.

In 1966 Glen was a founding member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects and later a Fellow of the Institute.

In 1975 Glen wrote Landscaping with Australian Plants and became a lecturer in landscape architecture at the Canberra College of Advanced education.

Glen also wrote a number of professional articles that were published in The Age newspaper and Landscape Journal. He also and published three books Landscaping with Australian Plants, 1975, Amenity planting in arid zones, 1980 and Landscaping for Australia, 2011.

In 1991 Glen donated a number of Edna Walling’s original garden design sketches to the State Library of Victoria.

Glen Wilson died in Benalla in 2016.

A notice in Legacy Remembers after Glens death mentions:

‘Our dear friend and landscape architect extraordinaire. Your exquisite gardens will live on forever. Krista Mogensen & family, Norm Booth, Wartook’.

Rodger Elliot and Glen Wilson both worked for and were trained by Eric Hammond and went onto successful careers in landscape design, cultivation and education. They have both contributed to our knowledge and understanding of Australian native plants, garden design and are a part of Eric Hammond’s legacy.

THE GARDEN AT COLERAINE -19 HILL ST, BOX HILL SOUTH

The garden at Eric Hammond’s home at 19 Hill St, Box Hill South was designed by the renowned garden designer Edna Walling in 1929.

The front garden

In the south easter corner of the front garden contains paving and a bird bath that was built by Eric Hammond during the time he and his family lived there. The paved area may have been designed by Edna Walling – investigations are required. Stuart Riley mentions:

‘Eric used to get me to do some sweeping around the house and I remember occasionally sweeping the paved area at the front’

The back garden

In 1929 Edna Walling designed the garden of Eric Hammond’s home at 19 Hill St, Box Hill South which he built. From aerial photos of 19 Hill St taken in 2024 there appears to be parts of Edna Walling’s garden still in existence. Investigations are required.

In the City of Whitehorse Heritage Properties Review 2006 mentions:

‘Walling prepared a garden plan for Hammond, who lived at Hill Street Box Hill, in c1929. Sections of this garden and planting remain intact’.

In the book Making Landscape Architecture in Australia written by Dr Andrew Saniga he mentions:

‘The courtyard design of the house at Hill Street foreshadowed Grounds’ design for the National Gallery of Victoria’.

THE FUTURE FOR WHITEHORSE

Eric H Hammond’s legacy

Eric H Hammond lived and worked in Box Hill for over seventy years and created a local and nationally known and respected landscaping business. The business employed many local Box Hill residents over that time as well as working with the renowned garden designer Edna Walling for over forty years.

In the City of Whitehorse Heritage Properties Review 2006 mentions:

‘Walling prepared a garden plan for Hammond, who lived at Hill Street Box Hill, in c1929. Sections of this garden and planting remain intact’.

This maybe the only surviving garden designed by Edna Walling and built by Eric H Hammond left in Whitehorse. I am hopeful that the Whitehorse Council, historical societies and the home owners can work together to register and protect this very important garden with the National Trust and Heritage Victoria so that current and future generations can learn from and enjoy it.

In the ‘Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Camp Buxton, Shoreham Conservation Management Plan Prepared for Mornington Peninsula Shire,2020’ mentions:

‘In addition to Latreille, Saniga (2012:72-73) notes that Hammond ‘built up considerable experience to become a formidable design and construct practitioner. It was the uncommon and particular abilities of practitioners such as Hammond that enabled him to apply landscape design beyond the domestic scale.’

There appears to be no street, park, pocket park or plaque that recognises Eric H Hammond’s contribution to Whitehorse, Melbourne or Australia’s horticultural and landscape heritage.

Whitehorse council and those interested in preserving our heritage should look at a way of recognising Eric H Hammond’s contribution to our horticultural, cultural and landscape heritage.

Sources:

Australian Garden History, 2002
Ancestry
City of Whitehorse Heritage Properties Review, 2006
Cranbourne Botanical Garden
Cyril Young Memorial Chapel Camp Buxton, Shoreham Conservation Management Plan Prepared for Mornington Peninsula Shire,2020
Making Landscape Architecture in Australia by Dr Andrew Saniga,2016
National Archives of Australia
People Australia – Australian National University
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Victoria
Stuart Riley – employed at E H Hammond’s from 1978 to 1983, currently owner and consultant of SR Horticulture in Surrey Hills
THE BOTANIC GARDENer magazine, 2019
The Charge of the White Horse Brigade – A History of the Box Hill Football Club by John Ure and Armin Richter, 2016
The Oxford Companion to Australian Gardens
The Reserve Bank of Australia
The Unusual Life of Edna Walling by Sara Hardy, 2005
The Vision of Edna Walling by Trisha Dixon and Jennie Churchill, 1998
TROVE

coleraine - 19 Hill St, box hill south

This website uses cookies.