In the pictures Cora inspects Barnstable's memorial drinking fountain and clock tower compared with the new Wilson Memorial right.

 

 

 

 

 

25 JUNE DIARY DATE - WE ARE NOW FINALISING PLANS FOR THE 2016 UNVEILING  CELEBRATIONS  OF THE GRANDCHILD OF SHAWS MULBERRY TREE IN PRIORY PARK. DI FOSTER, AMBASSADOR FROM MALVERN AUSTRALIA, WILL PERFORM THE CEREMONY. THIS WILL BE COMBINED WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW BOOK "TWO MALVERNS AND A MULBERRY TREE". The program, which is still subject to change, is planned as follows:
 
10.30 - opening of Malvern Civic Week ceremony Belle Vue Terrace, orchestrated by Malvern Civic Society.

12.00 - Unveiling of the Mulberry Tree plaque and tree in Priory Park by Di Foster, ambassador from Malvern, Victoria, part of the City of Stonnington - orchestrated by FMSW using the Elgar Spade. Those attending will get a free ticket for refreshments to follow.

1.00 - Mulberry Pie and tea/coffee hosted by the Mount Pleasant Hotel - Free tickets for tea / coffee and mulberry pie to those attending the unveiling and a chance to visit Malvern Museum afterwards to see a special Two Malverns display. We plan to show film of original events in the Mulberry Tree history at the Mount Pleasant Hotel. A lunchtime food menu will be available should anyone wish to supplement the free Mulberry Pie and tea/coffee.

 

There will then be a break until early evening when we return to the Mount Pleasant Hotel for dinner and entertainment.

 

7.00 - Welcome by Bruce Osborne on behalf of FMSW  - welcoming in particular our ambassador from Malvern Victoria, a separate bar will be available.

7. 10 - Evening hot and cold buffet meal at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, orchestrated by FMSW. tickets to be presold at fifteen pounds each. This is a chance to meet to socialise with the visitors.

8.10  - 5 minutes by Bruce explaining the Mulberry Tree project; followed by an auction of a Mulberry tree sapling.

8.20  - A short presentation on the Two Malverns friendship by Cora Weaver.

 

8.30 -  A presentation by Di Foster from and about Malvern, Victoria, Australia, followed by questions and answers and general discussion.

10.00 - close

In the picture - the Mulberry Tree in Malvern, Victoria 2009 planted from a cutting of George Bernard Shaw's original tree in Priory Park. Cuttings from this tree were reared to provide the replacement for Shaw's Tree in Priory Park. The original blew down in a storm in the year 2000.

 

A souvenir booklet will be published as a limited edition detailing the two Malverns in Australia and England and the history of the Mulberry Tree project. This will be available on the day price 2.00 pounds while stocks last. Further details as finalised will be advised. The Mulberry Tree project and events would not be possible without the generous assistance of Coca-Cola. Requests for tickets for the evening meal should be made to Cora direct Cora@malvernspa.com.

For more details of the project see our web site by clicking on the tree vandal above.

 

Malvern England has many similarities to Malvern, Victoria.  One of these common themes is the spring waters that played such an important part in founding both towns. It is ironical therefore that the proposed unveiling of the Mulberry Tree later this year will take place adjacent to one of Malvern, England's famous springs, the Spring and Water Gardens in Priory Park (site 106).

 

 

The picture above: the fountain in the Public Park in Malvern, Victoria. The fountain disappeared sometime after 1940, likely due to removal following disrepair. A perfect copy was made in 1992 and now stands in its place. The picture above is of the modern day fountain.

 

Malvern is a suburb in Melbourne and is located 8 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. The Local Government Area is the City of Stonnington. At the 2006 Census, Malvern had a population of about 11,000. The area around Malvern was first settled in 1835. John Gardiner was one of its first settlers when he overlanded 400 head of cattle who grazed where Malvern now is. When the first migrants came in the area in the 1850s they put up tents around a spring, which lay at the foot of the Malvern Hill.  As a result a canvas town sprung up.

 

A small hamlet known as "Gardiner" named after the local creek, was established by 1851 near what is now Malvern but it declined with the gold rush. Like Malvern England the later township was founded on spring water. The area around the spring has been designated a water reservation since 1856. The natural spring, used by the Wurundjeri people prior to European settlement, supplied the developing suburb with water before a formal water supply scheme was implemented in 1869. After various local government reorganisations the City of Malvern was eventually so named. In the mid 19th century more formal water supply systems were under consideration, using the spring water. In addition wells were dug to enhance the availability of good water. In 1885 the government intended auctioning the land around the spring, but a public protest caused it to be secured for public use. The public reserve, which included 8 acres of land, was thereafter secured for the community of Malvern, leading to the formal development as the park.

 

Malvern Gardens in Spring Road became Malvern's first public gardens. The official opening took place on December 12,1890. In 1888 Malvern Council approached Thomas Pockett who was appointed curator of Malvern Gardens and from 1888, over a period of twenty years, he landscaped the area. Pockett's original design included a fish pond where the handsome fountain was installed above artistic grotto work designed by Robinette. Today visitors can still enjoy the gardens and fountain when exploring this Malvern on the other side of the world.

 

In the picture Di Foster, ambassador from Australia in Malvern's Public Park.