The intricate Nareeb Gates might have caught your eye while strolling through Melbourne Gardens D Gate entrance – highly decorated, they stand out amongst the more modest entrances to the gardens, and this speaks to their colourful history spanning decades – and oceans!
Originally built in England, the gates arrived in Australia, where they stood for over 60 years at Toorak’s grand Nareeb estate. Constructed in 1888, Nareeb estate was designed in an Italianesque style by architect William Salway, and built for Piano Manufacturer Charles Beale, who hosted many extravagant parties within it.
The estate was truly grand, boasting 34 luxurious rooms including an ornate entrance hall, smoking room, music room, sewing room, and considering Beale had 13 children, not an insignificant amount of bedrooms!
When Nareeb estate was auctioned off in 1965, it still operated using a gas-powered lighting system and so did its gates, the most eye-catching feature of which are the vibrant gas lamps adorning each post. When the property was demolished in the late 60s, the owners bequeathed the Gates to the National Trust of Australia, following which they were erected at the D Gate entrance, and officially declared open in November of 1967.
In 2019, the lamps adorning Nareeb Gate’s glorious posts are no longer functional, and the Gardens are hoping to light them once more, albeit with a more modern ‘flame’! With your help, we can restore Nareeb Gates and other heritage gems in Melbourne Gardens to their former glory so they can be enjoyed by future generations for years to come. Your donation can see to a Gardens rich in character and charm we head in to the future.
Source: https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/news/nareeb-gates
Balance Architecture were pleased to assist the Royal Botanical Gardens in providing material for the article featured here.
You can read about Nareeb, Armadale and Heathfield, Grand Mansions of Melbourne now demolished here.
Heritage is of vital importance to our community, our city and the destruction of these grand masterpieces in less than 150 years probably indicates that at the time, our appreciation of such Architecture and its historical importance was of lesser importance than it should have been.
So as you pass through those beautiful elaborate gates at the Botanical Gardens D Entrance, take a moment to be wistful and transport yourself back to 1888 as Charles Beale, Piano manufacturer first strolled through them on his evening walk. But now you may ‘take the airs’ yourself as you enjoy one of Melbourne’s most renowned Heritage treasures – the Royal Botanical Gardens.
(Don’t forget your plimsolls and boater hats!)