The Nobelius Heritage Park (NOBELIUS NURSERY)
The small settlement of Emerald in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges was established in 1858 when gold was discovered along the Menzies and Sassafras Creeks, causing prospectors to flock to the area. By 1877 large blocks of land in Emerald became available that had been subdivided from Dandenong State Forest; taken up mostly by individuals with agricultural uses in mind (Emerald Museum 2006:4-5). In 1886 Carl Axel Nobelius purchased 63 acres of land from an original selector in the small settlement, in an area now mostly occupied by the Emerald Country Club. Whilst maintaining a full time position at Joseph Harris’ South Yarra Nurseries, he spent several years clearing, cultivating and planting it at the weekend (Graeme Butler & Associates 1999:21&37)
The enterprise was called Gembrook Nurseries, being part of the Parish of Gembrook, but was more commonly known as Nobelius Nursery after its proprietor. During the 1890s, the Australian colonies transitioned from a period of prosperity to severe economic depression, primarily attributed to excessive investment during the 1880s that increased reliance on overseas capital (Weatherley & Gordon 1999:42). On the contrary, Nobelius’ business thrived. This was largely due to local and State governments across the country investing in public works projects to provide employment, which included the development of public parks and gardens and tree shaded streets (Sydney Morning Herald 1894:5). Sales accounts held at the Emerald Museum show that Nobelius supplied fruit and ornamental tree stock to more than 40 councils and government organisations during the 1890s alone (Emerald Museum collection VEMU1.1). Among these were the Department of Agriculture, Melbourne Water Supply, Victorian Railways and the Lands Department (Emerald Museum collection VEMU1.1).
Business was doing so well that Carl Axel was one of thirteen local witnesses who gave evidence to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways in 1898, proposing the installation of a railway to connect Ferntree Gully with Gembrook (Victoria Parliament Standing Committee on Railways 1898). Up until this point, all goods brought in and out of the Dandenongs were transported by train to Narre Warren, then by bullock dray to their final destination; an arduous and costly process. The petition was successful and led to what is now known as the Puffing Billy Railway being officially opened in 1900 (aspects of which are now state heritage registered: VHR place details ID/H2187 & H1439). Carl Axel was also granted special permission to install a railway siding and packing shed, known as ‘Nobelius Station’, to service the export of his stock to clients directly from the nursery, which are now both part of the Nobelius Heritage Park’s listing on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR place details ID/H2285).
The nursery and orchard continued to grow in both client base and coverage, gradually expanding to occupy around 280 acres with over one million saleable trees by 1905 (South Bourke and Mornington Journal 1905:3). The nursery’s main strengths were exotic fruit and ornamental tree varieties, which Carl took pains to source from all over the world, and in many cases was one of the first nurserymen to do so in Australia (Brighton Southern Cross 1897:3; Lyng 1939:75). His stock was advertised in annual illustrated catalogues featuring detailed descriptions of all saleable produce, which were distributed to subscribers and potential clients. It was not only this industrious promotion of the nursery that made it highly successful. Nobelius was universally known for the cleanliness and reliability of his stock; indeed, during a visit by Governor of Victoria Sir Reginald Talbot in 1905, Sir Talbot proclaimed that:
“They had an example in the property they had just inspected of what could be done by energy, enterprise, courage, and integrity. Mr. Nobelius was known everywhere as one who would supply stock true to sample. He wanted no trademark, not even the union label, for what he supplied” (South Bourke and Mornington Journal 1905:3).
An 1897 article also describes some of the simple ingenuity utilised at the nursery to ensure consistency and quality:
“Raspberries are grown in large quantities for market purposes, and are all grown on the trellis system. Mr. Nobelius considers it by far the best method, as the fruit is more easily gathered, and it also prevents injury to the canes… The system of cultivation here is most thorough, and the whole of the 40 acres has been dug by hand, and Mr. Nobelius is quite satisfied with the results. The hoes are kept constantly going, with the result that the ground is covered with a fine mulch of soil, thus preventing rapid evaporation… The ornamental trees are grown on the same system as at home, and that is, to allow the side shoots on the stems to grow- and not to cut them off close, as is often times practiced. Where they are just spurred in it proves of great help in strengthening the stem… The system of labelling is one that might well be followed by many of our fruit-growers. Small circular pieces of zinc are securely fastened to stakes, the numbers being stamped on the zinc, thus being indestructible, and no fear of becoming weather worn” (Brighton Southern Cross 1897:3).
The Dandenongs’ rich soil was ideal for growing fruit trees, encouraging strong, fibrous roots that made transporting young plants possible, and as a result, the nursery was able to readily supply to international clients despite the lengthy transit (Brighton Southern Cross 1897:3; Jenkinson 2002:4). Nursery cashbooks show that Nobelius was distributing to international clients including those in parts of Europe, Asia, America, Africa and New Zealand. He also regularly contributed produce to Melbourne's prestigious Fitzroy and Royal Botanic Gardens (Emerald Museum collection VEMU1.2). At its peak in 1914 just prior to WWI, Nobelius had two million fruit and ornamental trees for sale (Graeme Butler & Associates 1999:37). The nursery was also a mainstay for the local economy, providing work for settlers during harvest who could then tend to their own landholdings in the summer months.
In addition to his property in Emerald, Carl Axel purchased 450 acres on the Tamar River in Tasmania in 1908. He used this land to plant a further 40,000 fruit trees (Weatherley & Gordon 1999:42). He also ventured into other business areas, including growing flax for manufacturing rope and twine, as well as rosemary and lavender for use in the cosmetic industry (Jenkinson 2002:6). It is estimated that by 1921, Nobelius had produced over 100 tons of the valuable flax (Phormium tenax) and was responsible for introducing it to Australia (Lyng 1927:75-76). Contemporary publications state that his fruit packing shed was capable of handling 250,000 cases of fruit annually, and that Nobelius Nursery was “the largest fruit-tree concern under the Southern Cross” (Lyng 1927:75-76).
Carl Axel Nobelius died of pneumonia at his home in Emerald in December of 1921 (Coulson 1968:225-226). His sons acquired part of the Nobelius Estate and the remainder was sold to two syndicates. A wealthy Melbourne doctor acquired around 600 acres of the land that soon became the Emerald Country Club Estate, owned by Emerald Pty Ltd. The estate still exists today. The other syndicate, known as Nobelius Station Estates, was also made up of Melbourne businessmen who purchased a portion of land that included today’s Emerald Lake Park (Jenkinson 2002:13-14). Approximately 12 acres of the holding owned by Nobelius Station Estates continued operating as a wholesale nursery; three of Carl Axel’s sons had a vested interest and were directly involved as business managers under the trading name of C. A. Nobelius & Sons. It remained very much a family business until it was sold to L. Linton in 1955, but retained the Nobelius & Sons trading name until Din San Nurseries purchased it from Linton in 1967 (Coulson 1968:225-226).
In 1981 the nursery finally closed and realising its heritage value, a public campaign was launched for the remaining 12 acres to be purchased as a community heritage landmark. The former Shire of Sherbrooke subsequently bought the land with assistance from the State government and it was officially opened as Nobelius Heritage Park, along with Emerald Museum, in 1993 (Jenkinson 2002:23-25). The Museum retained a collection of Nobelius Nursery archives and objects.
The following extract from the Victorian Heritage Register listing outlines the significance of the Park today:
“This remnant of the former Nobelius Nursery is located in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. It retains many examples of the trees planted by Nobelius and his sons, including two notable specimens: a rare Rewarewa (Knightia excelsa), the largest specimen of this rare tree in Victoria; and an outstanding specimen of the cut-leaf black alder (Alnus glutinosa 'Laciniata'). It also retains remnants of old nursery stock and features characteristic of the former nursery such as rows of trees planted at right angles to the contours. A dominant element in views from the nursery site is the two-storey timber packing shed adjacent to the Nobelius Siding on the Puffing Billy Railway. Many of the plants in the park were planted after the Nobelius era. There are plantations of lavender, rosemary, raspberries, eucalypts, New Zealand flax and fruit and ornamental trees established by Gus Ryberg, who once worked for the Nobelius nursery, as reminders of former Nobelius ventures and other local industries” (VHR place details ID/H2285).