Burnley College (Australia)
Encyclopedia
Burnley College, Melbourne
, Australia
is one of the oldest Colleges in the country and it specialises in horticulture
.
The site of Burnley College began as the Richmond Survey Paddock in 1850. The Horticultural Society of Victoria took control in 1863 and opened the gardens on January 1, 1863, the official opening being marked by the planting of a Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) which is now a magnificent tree.
The site was transferred to the Victorian Department of Agriculture in 1891 and the gardens became home to the new teaching college. In subsequent years, the college has taught not only production and ornamental horticulture but many areas of agriculture: Burnley has been home to a dairy herd, poultry trials and beehives.
In 1983, The College was amalgamated with the Department of Agriculture's other colleges, including Dookie College, to form the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture (VCAH). As a result of the 1988 white paper on Higher Education, the VCAH was amalgamated with the University of Melbourne, formally legislated under the University of Melbourne (VCAH) act 1997. The act granted all (formerly state owned) property and assets of the VCAH to the University of Melbourne, and also transferred all obligations of the VCAH to the University.
At its peak in the mid 1990s, there were over 2000 students enrolled at the College. In 1994, 224 students graduated, 75 of whom were from the longest running course, the Advanced Diploma in Horticulture. At the time the University took control, courses ranged from introductory short courses in horticulture, through Apprentice training, TAFE courses, the Advanced Diploma, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture. There was also a Graduate Certificate and postgraduate research at Masters and PhD levels. There were 35 academic staff, and approximately 40 technical, administration and ancillary staff.
The University phased out the TAFE courses, and in line with the "Melbourne Model" have systematically removed courses, so that there are now less than 200 students enrolled at the campus. The Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture, and the Masters (by coursework) in Urban Horticulture are the only courses offered by the University at this campus. Neither of these were offered by the former VCAH. The Burnley Student Association was merged with the University student union, and eventually disbanded. There are no student union services on site at present. The book shop, Plants in Print, was merged with the University book shop, and shut down.
Burnley College is now focussed on environmental horticulture and resource management. Facilities include a specialist library, plant nursery, field research and demonstration area, graphics studio, horticultural engineering facilities and plant tissue culture and genetics laboratories.
Today, 150 years after the Burnley Gardens were established, they continue to be a wonderful resource for students and visitors alike. The open lawns, curved paths, secluded areas and large conifers providing architectural form combine to make a classic Victorian Garden. Recent developments such as the Native Grasslands Garden and the Rainforest Garden have provided new design themes for the gardens.
The importance of the Burnley Gardens to the State of Victoria was recognised when the gardens were added to the Victorian Heritage Register
on 5 December 2003.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is one of the oldest Colleges in the country and it specialises in horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
.
The site of Burnley College began as the Richmond Survey Paddock in 1850. The Horticultural Society of Victoria took control in 1863 and opened the gardens on January 1, 1863, the official opening being marked by the planting of a Californian Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) which is now a magnificent tree.
The site was transferred to the Victorian Department of Agriculture in 1891 and the gardens became home to the new teaching college. In subsequent years, the college has taught not only production and ornamental horticulture but many areas of agriculture: Burnley has been home to a dairy herd, poultry trials and beehives.
In 1983, The College was amalgamated with the Department of Agriculture's other colleges, including Dookie College, to form the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture (VCAH). As a result of the 1988 white paper on Higher Education, the VCAH was amalgamated with the University of Melbourne, formally legislated under the University of Melbourne (VCAH) act 1997. The act granted all (formerly state owned) property and assets of the VCAH to the University of Melbourne, and also transferred all obligations of the VCAH to the University.
At its peak in the mid 1990s, there were over 2000 students enrolled at the College. In 1994, 224 students graduated, 75 of whom were from the longest running course, the Advanced Diploma in Horticulture. At the time the University took control, courses ranged from introductory short courses in horticulture, through Apprentice training, TAFE courses, the Advanced Diploma, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Horticulture. There was also a Graduate Certificate and postgraduate research at Masters and PhD levels. There were 35 academic staff, and approximately 40 technical, administration and ancillary staff.
The University phased out the TAFE courses, and in line with the "Melbourne Model" have systematically removed courses, so that there are now less than 200 students enrolled at the campus. The Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture, and the Masters (by coursework) in Urban Horticulture are the only courses offered by the University at this campus. Neither of these were offered by the former VCAH. The Burnley Student Association was merged with the University student union, and eventually disbanded. There are no student union services on site at present. The book shop, Plants in Print, was merged with the University book shop, and shut down.
Burnley College is now focussed on environmental horticulture and resource management. Facilities include a specialist library, plant nursery, field research and demonstration area, graphics studio, horticultural engineering facilities and plant tissue culture and genetics laboratories.
Today, 150 years after the Burnley Gardens were established, they continue to be a wonderful resource for students and visitors alike. The open lawns, curved paths, secluded areas and large conifers providing architectural form combine to make a classic Victorian Garden. Recent developments such as the Native Grasslands Garden and the Rainforest Garden have provided new design themes for the gardens.
The importance of the Burnley Gardens to the State of Victoria was recognised when the gardens were added to the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
on 5 December 2003.