A FLOWER BASKET at a factory seems rather unlikely, doesn’t it?
The factory garden, owned by the FJ company, was always open for tourists, families and general public. As a result, the gardens took on a life of its own.
The idea for the Fletcher Jones Gardens came from a number of interesting places…
‘Why Should a Factory Look Like a Factory?’
That was what Fletcher Jones asked himself when he hired his brother-in-law, Leslie Boucher, to design an oasis that would take up almost half of the factory’s site.
This book owned by Fletcher Jones himself is filled with his personal notes. It seemed to have a large influence on the design of the FJ gardens.
Take a look at these pages
Do they resemble anything else you see on the site?
FJ was inspired by ornamental European garden elements. For instance this “formal pool of unusual design” and sunken gardens is similar to the Fountain you have passed!
The neat and highly manicured appearance of the Gardens were typical of a trend in Australian gardens during the 1940s-50s. However, the FJ Gardens stood out as they were created in an industrial setting. This is one of the many reasons why the Fletcher Jones Gardens are included on the Victorian Heritage List!
And the Memories Live On
Generations of Fletcher Jones’ employees, locals and tourists have spent countless hours in the Gardens and hold dear memories about them.
Christmas parties were a long held tradition at the Fletcher Jones gardens. Since 2014, community picnics continue to be held annually in December to celebrate this part of Fletcher Jones history.
“Each year, we received a Christmas present. One year the men got socks and the women got a box of chocolates, the next year it was stockings for us and chocolates for the men!”
– Patricia Campbell –
FJ staff Christmas Party Program
“Each child had a name tag and they were given a present that was wrapped with their name on it. Margaret Dunne, who worked in Mail Order was the woman who used to organize the Christmas presents.”
– Eleanor Anderton who worked in the FJ office 1966-1982 –
FJ staff during Christmas Picnic in the Gardens, 1972
When Claire Jennings (nee Gleeson) was 9 years old, she received the “Premier Book for Girls” at one of the FJ Christmas Parties from Santa Claus in the early 1960s. Since then, it has never left her book shelf. Claire loves the present dearly as it evokes a lot of memories and also fuelled her passion for crosswords that persists to this very day.
But it wasn’t only Christmas that was a cheerful time at the Gardens…
Many local residents took their guests to the beautiful Fletcher Jones Gardens during their weddings. An especially memorable incident was when one of the bridesmaids fell into the pond!
According to Justin Fry, the son of the wedding couple’s videographer, this was exactly what happened as the couple and their company tried to pose for a photograph in front of the pond. The poor bridesmaid got fished out and her little accident really made it an unforgettable day!
Do watch your step as you continue to wander through the Gardens!
And the Fletcher Jones story continues from one generation to the next…
The Gardens as a Meeting Place
Today, the site is still frequented by many local residents and visitors to the City of Warrnambool – just like you!
The Gardens continue to exist as a public place thanks to the owner Dean Montgomery who bought the site in 2014.
Have you been to the Fletcher Jones Gardens before? Or are you just passing through?
Fletcher Jones Gardens Digital Tour 