PURCHASE NURSERY 1870s

STATE LIBRARY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

From the earliest years of colonial settlement, land adjacent to the river upstream from the Queens wharf was set aside for small scale agriculture. From as early as 1790, Governor Phillip’s instructions were to set aside this area as ‘grounds for cultivation’ of maize or corn. Later maps describe lands east of Harris street as ‘Marines’ gardens’.

In the 1870s, an area bounded by George, Hassall, Harris and Purchase Street contained a vast commercial garden, The Somerset Nursery, selling exotic plants, trees and shrubs, organized into pots, beds and glass houses, with water tanks, winding avenues, trellised walkways and scenic vistas across the Harris estate and up to Elizabeth Farm.

The nursery business was run by Samuel Purchase and his family and continued to operate until 1902. Its believed the death of Purchase led to its closure, although actual details remain unclear.

Traces of the grand 19th century Somerset Nursery survive in the form of mature trees scattered across Robin Thomas Reserve. The recreational grounds in this area are currently managed by Parramatta City Council.