Welcome to Dawson St Gardens
Community Connecting
with Nature
​
Corner of Dawson and Theodore Streets, Curtin ACT
(Photo: R Stevens)
About Us
A community-led environmental and educational park with strong local involvement. These low maintenance gardens increase biodiversity and provide a natural space for our community and visitors to enjoy, appreciate and care for nature.
The plants are frost hardy and can survive temperature extremes. They offer residents climate-wise options for their own gardens.
See QR codes on individual plant signs at the Gardens, for detailed information.
We hold regular fortnightly gardening sessions and welcome new volunteers.
Contact Us: dawsonstgardens@gmail.com
dawsonstgardens
Links:
Michael Mulvaney: an ecologist’s viewpoint / Canberra Nature Map
(video)
People of the park:
Pat / school kids/official opening
(video)
Dawson St Gardens Plant List
(pdf)
Modern history of the park from 1960s to present / timeline
(Word)
(aerial photos)
​A brief history of Dawson St
History of the park
Initial planting of eucalypt saplings late 1967
(photo: Canberra and District Historical Society)
HISTORY OF THE PARK
Prior to European settlement this land was open grasslands/woodland with a functional ecosystem with Ngunnawal custodians.
Settlement brought European farming practices that were not sustainable for the existing ecosystem.
The suburb of Curtin was first developed in the 1960s and grew with an enlightened urban landscape design, with urban open spaces. However this park was not developed and became mostly barren with soil compacted from drought and vehicles.
This community garden focuses on a return to a rich biodiversity haven with mostly Australian native plants and includes Curtin’s first tree on the ACT Tree Register - Eucalyptus mannifera (Red Spotted Gum or Brittle Gum).
Dawson St Gardens 2023 (photo: Google Earth)
Acknowledgements:
With thanks to:
ACT Government for a 2020-2021 ACT Environment and Nature in the City Grant; and ongoing maintenance support through Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS).
-
Molonglo Conservation Group for hosting and ongoing support;
-
Curtin Trees and Gardens Group (formerly Curtin Garden Group);
-
Dawson St Gardens volunteers and other enthusiastic and valued supporters;
-
Seed Head Design;
-
Curtin Primary School, Holy Trinity Primary School, Alfred Deakin High School.
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of this land over thousands of years. We drew on their knowledge for the overall design and plant selection of these gardens.
We couldn’t have done it without you!