A young couple and their baby stop to admire a fine planting of flowers in the Victoria Esplanade.

These palm trees were planted in the mid 1930's. The Victoria Esplanade underwent a variety of improvements under Peter Black, the Curator of Reserves from 1908-1946. These included various footpaths, Victoria Drive, mass plantings (notably of the cherry trees and phoenix palms), the creation of a pergola, a tea kiosk, the RSA paddling pool and a begonia hothouse (now known as the “Peter Black Conservatory”).