Naming of Victoria ParkPrint Page 
The plaque commemorates the ceremony that saw the naming of Victoria Park and the completion of tree planting.
In July 1887 the Moonta township held a tree planting ceremony to celebrate the revegetating of the area. The Mayor Mr James, Captain Hancock and Mr Jones J. P. each planted a sugar gum. The Mayoress planted a pine and was presented with a small commemorative spade. Mrs James named Victoria Park to honour Queen’s Victoria`s 50th Jubilee.
Location
| Address: | Milne Terrace, Victoria Park, Moonta, 5558 |
|---|---|
| State: | SA |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -34.070222 Long: 137.585722 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Plaque |
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| Monument Theme: | Culture |
| Sub-Theme: | Community |
| Actual Event Start Date: | |
| Approx. Event Start Date: | July-1887 |
| Actual Event End Date: | |
| Approx. Event End Date: | July-1887 |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Sunday 23rd July, 2017 |
|---|---|
| Approx. Monument Dedication Date: |
Commemorating a ceremony held 130 years ago
The ceremony named the area Victoria Park and celebrated the completion of the tree planting that created the park.
Officially unveiled by Mrs Kathryn Thomas, wife of Mayor Paul Thomas, Copper Coast Council on 23rd July 2017.
Funded by Moonta and District Progress Association in conjunction with Friends of Victoria Park
Revegetating the park
In July 1887 the Moonta township held a tree planting ceremony here on the hill to celebrate the revegetating of the area. The Mayor Mr James, Captain Hancock and Mr Jones J. P. each planted a sugar gum. The Mayoress planted a pine and was presented with a small commemorative spade.
Mrs James named Victoria Park to honour Queen’s Victoria`s 50th Jubilee. Bartley’s Band played, children sang and spectators applauded speeches extolling the virtue of planting trees. During the 1890s the Tree Planting Committee began the long tradition of annual Arbour Days in Victoria Park and around the township. Each year the Mayor along with Councillors, children and teaches marched to the beat of the military band from the Council Chambers to Victoria Park where hundreds of trees were planted.
In 2016 the Friends group started propagating and planting local species of plants that were not present on the park. They have concentrated on rare and vulnerable species and are planting in selected sites. You may like to check out the Ellen St and Henry St entries and around the stormwater pond. The group is also replacing some of decrepid Aleppo pine trees lining the pathways with local pines.
In 2017 the original tree planting ceremony was re-enacted. The Mayor Paul Thomas, the Mayoress Kathryn Thomas, along with other local dignitaries and descendants of the James family, planted four commemorative trees.
