J. H. Maiden
Sydney: Donald Campbell, Government Printer, 1922.

NSW Government Report by Joseph Henry Maiden. Appointed Government Botanist and Director of the Botanic Gardens in 1896 and from that date produced voluminous reports most years throughout his tenure. A talented and enthusiastic botanist Maiden immediately set to work establishing the colony’s first herbarium, the National Herbarium of New South Wales, together with a museum and library. He was also responsible for the construction of Sydney’s first playground and worked tirelessly to develop the educational value of the Botanical Gardens for all Australians. His reports provide detailed insight into such endeavours, as well as the year on year goings on of the gardens in the late 19th and early 20th century, with its developments and challenges, from the growth and maintenance of the grounds, to projects, staff, botanical samples and seed exchanges, botanical and library acquisitions, and more. This extract provides a glimpse into the gardens in 1920 and includes 8 large photographs of trees.