Thomas Weston (horticulturalist)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Charles George Weston MBE (14 October 1866 – 1 December 1935) was an Australia
n horticulturist and was responsible for the afforestation of Canberra
.
Weston was born in Middlesex
, England. He trained as a horticulturist in the United Kingdom
and migrated to New South Wales in 1896. He was employed as a gardener at Admiralty House in Sydney
from 1898 to 1908 and as the superintendent at Federal Government House, Sydney until 1912. He managed the State Nursery, at Campbelltown
between 1912 and 1913, and was appointed officer-in-charge of afforestation, Canberra in that year. He held that position until 1926.
In Canberra he carried out extensive scientific breeding trials to increase the number of species that might grow in Canberra. He also established the first plantation forest on Mount Stromlo
. Nearly 1.2 million trees were put in between 1921 and 1924. Weston Park
, a large park in Canberra, is named in his honour. He died in Turramurra and his ashes were scattered in front of Old Parliament House
in Canberra.
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...
n horticulturist and was responsible for the afforestation of Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
Weston was born in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, England. He trained as a horticulturist in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and migrated to New South Wales in 1896. He was employed as a gardener at Admiralty House in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
from 1898 to 1908 and as the superintendent at Federal Government House, Sydney until 1912. He managed the State Nursery, at Campbelltown
Campbelltown, New South Wales
Campbelltown is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Campbelltown is located 51 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Campbelltown.- History :Campbelltown...
between 1912 and 1913, and was appointed officer-in-charge of afforestation, Canberra in that year. He held that position until 1926.
In Canberra he carried out extensive scientific breeding trials to increase the number of species that might grow in Canberra. He also established the first plantation forest on Mount Stromlo
Mount Stromlo
Mount Stromlo is situated a short drive west of the centre of Canberra, Australia, near the district of Weston Creek. Its peak is at approximately 770m AHD....
. Nearly 1.2 million trees were put in between 1921 and 1924. Weston Park
Weston Park, Canberra
Weston Park is a park located on a peninsula on the western side of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, Australia. In 1963 the park was named after Charles Weston, who had founded the nearby Yarralumla Nursery in 1914. On the western side of the peninsula is Yarramundi Reach and on the eastern side is...
, a large park in Canberra, is named in his honour. He died in Turramurra and his ashes were scattered in front of Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
in Canberra.