This week, Rover decided that with the weather warming up and Christmas approaching, he wanted to visit somewhere which would be perfect for a picnic. Rover loves picnicking, and there are so many stunning places to enjoy an outdoor meal around NSW. One which Rover discovered recently is the Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Gardens in Young.
If you would like to visit the Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Gardens, they are located just outside the main town area of Young in the South West Slopes area of NSW. The gardens are located on Pitstone Road in Young, and are built around the original Chinamans Dam, which was an important place in not just the history of Young, but in Australian gold rush history more generally.
Chinamans Dam, around which the Lambing Flat Chinese Tribute Gardens is built, was constructed in the 1860s by a pair of German brothers. In the 1870s, the brothers sold their gold mining claim to a Chinese group who continued to work the site, and the dam became known as Chinamans Dam. After the gold rush in Young ran its course (and the riots of course) the dam was first used to provide water to steam trains, and then as a popular swimming hole for Young residents. In 1955 the Burrangong Shire Council made plans to incorporate the dam as part of a public recreation reserve and money for the project was raised during the Young Festival of Centenary in 1958. In 1961 the road to the dam was sealed and then in 1970 a kiosk was built for swimmers. (Swimming is no longer allowed at the dam today)
Yet the recreation reserve was vastly different to what we see today, without the beautiful landscaping which is so much a part of the tribute gardens. In 1992, the Rotary Club of Young began a beautification scheme for the Chinaman’s Dam area and this was when the Chinese Tribute Gardens truly began. Yet the project was a real community effort, not just for Young, but in Australia on a wider scale. Taronga Park Zoo donated the Chinese style gates which had been used previously as part of their panda exhibition and these became a beautiful entry to the gardens. In December, an exhibition and sale of Chinese items which had been donated by the Chinese Embassy in Canberra raised money for the project, and in 1993 Young was given a grant towards the project as part of Australia Day celebrations. The National Cherry Festival, which is held in Young, also donated substantial funds to the project. By November, 1996, the project was nearly complete, and Rotary handed the gardens and the project itself to the Young Shire Council. The Council has since continued to maintain the gardens, which are today a beautiful, mature example of Chinese landscape and garden art.