Acton Nursery

Frank Dunshea: Recollections of Acton between 1926-1946
[Excerpts on the Acton Nursery]

"The nursery was situated on the western side of the Acton offices and was bordered by the RCGC [Royal Canberra Golf Club] on one side. Most of the nursery site would now be covered by the waters of Lake Burley Griffin and would have covered an area of about twenty acres. It consisted of many exotic and native trees established in square sections with borders of low hedges around each section and with tracks between them large enough for a truck to get along. It was a lovely quiet aspect with many beautiful trees and shrubs some of which, I think, are quite rare in Australia.

One tree in the nursery comes to mind. We were told it was called a Monkey Pola Tree and that it was the only tree covered in spikes with razor edges on all its branches that a monkey could not climb. I have never seen a similar tree since, anywhere in Australia.

The nursery was a great place to play in and many a game of hide and seek was held there. With its wide straight sandy paths bordered by hedges it was also a great place for riding bikes in, as you could get up a bit of speed on a long straight stretch and broadside in the sand around the 90 degree bends, and if you did not succeed in getting around you had a reasonably safe landing in one of the hedges.

Next to the gate to the nursery on the side nearest the Acton Cottage was the house of Sid Griffiths and family. Mr Griffiths worked for the Parks and Gardens and drove one of their lorries – perhaps it was the only one at the time.

The main track through the nursery from this gate was used as a short cut when walking from Acton cottages to the Acton Offices. A small part of the nursery was fenced off from the well established area and was used for growing young trees and shrubs."