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Picture: A horse and carriage
with a party of Club members at Ellerslie Races in 1902.
Auckland Public Libraries Special Collections
Ellerslie Gardens
During the early 1870s Robert decided to turn a portion of his estate now
bounded by Hurst, Harrod, Tecoma, and Robert Streets into the 'Ellerslie
Zoological Gardens'.
Landscape gardeners were employed to create numerous
rockeries, pavilions, rustic arbours and swings, a merry-go-round, a dancing
stage and bandstand, and two round stone houses for seating.
An orchard
and strawberry fields were planted nearby and grounds for football, athletics,
and cricket were laid out. A lion, a tiger, a bear, an eagle, several monkeys,
and emus provided additional attractions for visitors.
The gardens regularly
brought thousands of Aucklanders to Ellerslie and became notorious for
indulgence in delicious strawberries and ice cream.
The racecourse, sports events,
and the gardens made Ellerslie a centre for socialising and leisure.
In later years Graham continued to wear the silk hat and frock coat of a
gentleman, riding into town on a grey pony each morning after visiting the
gardens.
Following the establishment of horse racing the gardens were renamed
the 'Ellerslie Racecourse Gardens'.
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