Visiting Boyce Gardens

A private garden for more than half a century, Boyce Gardens is now open for all to visit.

This magnificent garden, forest and park, covering 6 hectares, was established by leading Toowoomba citizens Leslie and Margaret Boyce in 1929. It was given by them in trust to The University of Queensland (UQ) for the enjoyment and education of the people of Australia.

Since year-round colour is the aim of the Boyce Gardens, you should see a reasonable selection of the garden's approximately 700 flowering plants whenever you visit.

Self-guided walk

Visitors to Boyce Gardens are encouraged to take the self-guided walk covering key points of interest. Signage is located at each point providing further information about the features below.

View the self-guided walk flyer (PDF, 2 MB)

Magnolia tree

The magnolia tree—Magnolia grandiflora—is a species native to the United States, planted here in 1935 and now one of the largest magnolias in Toowoomba. In the fork of the tree are bird’s nest ferns (Asplenium australasicum) and below is a bed of perennial irises (Iris japonica).

To the left and right of this tree are camellias and azaleas — the slightly acidic soil is ideal for these varieties.

Past these gardens, on the southern slope of Mt Lofty (previously known as 'Tick Hill'), is remnant eucalypt forest, which once covered most of the area of where Toowoomba stands today.

The white garden

The white garden was one of the Boyce’s first gardens and originally developed as a rose garden. The roses did not fare well in this environment, due to low sunlight and temperatures. Influenced by the garden at Crathes Castle in Scotland, Dr Boyce established a white-themed garden instead. The roses were moved to a sunnier position up the hill. The trained white rose—Rosa alba (senica/laevigata)—planted in 1940, is today an uncommon rose.

On the Range Street edge, the Boyces erected 2 disused windmill towers and planted wisteria, which quickly covered the towers.

The circular hedge combines native and exotic may bushes (Spiraea genus). The central tree (Buckinghamia celsissima) was planted by Estate Manager Mr Daryl Mears after Dr Boyce’s death to continue the white theme.

Pool and basalt rockery garden

The pool and basalt rockery garden were completed in 1948.

The Boyces carried the large basalt columns with a non-mechanical crane, excavated the pool and built the terrace with pick and shovel. The stone lion head at the centre of the far end of the pool is from Westminster Abbey, United Kingdom. As per their wishes, both Mrs Boyce and Dr Boyce’s ashes were scattered on the terrace near the pool. The Southern Cross Corporation cast and mounted two bronze plaques in memory of the garden’s creators in this area.

In Toowoomba’s East Creek Park, two seats were also dedicated to the Boyces by Toowoomba’s Green Watch, as patrons of the group.

Rainforest walk

The restoration and preservation of the rainforest was one of the Boyce's favourite projects, requiring significant attention to clear vegetation and plant new species. Today, the canopy is more than 30 metres high, and the natural ecology is largely restored.

In the forest’s centre is the over 150-year-old strangler fig tree (Ficus henneana) — one of 4 native fig varieties in the forest. The National Trust of Australia lists it as a key factor in Boyce Gardens’ regional significance as the largest strangler fig in Toowoomba. More than 100 species of trees, shrubs and vines and 25 species of fern have been identified here.

On the Eastern border is a pine forest, mostly populated by hoop pines (Araucaria cunninghammi), alongside Kauri (Agathis robusta) and Bunya pines (Araucaria bidwillii).

The walk through the rainforest is about 300 metres (approximately 15 minutes walking time) with some steep grades, and is suitable for confident walkers. This is the sole surviving remnant of the original Toowoomba rainforest. Invasive exotics are constantly weeded from the forest area, so you'll see only indigenous trees, shrubs, climbers and ferns.

Avocado orchard

The orchard was established in the 1950s with grafted avocados from a Bundaberg nursery and macadamia trees, which formed the main trees of the orchard. Initially, 8 avocado trees were planted in the orchard around 1954 and 6 large trees remain.

At the lower section of the orchard sits a macadamia tree. A citrus tree and a mango tree are planted higher up the hillside in a more suitable growing location in the direct sun.

Tennis court

The tennis court was built in 1937, originally with an ant bed surface that was later replaced with lawn.

Along the east is a bank of spear lillies (Doryanthes palmeri), which are spectacular when carrying their giant red blooms, as well as a collection of grass trees (Xanthorrea species).

An interesting feature on the brick wall: a "chimaera"—or gargoyle—sculpture, which was originally from the Houses of Parliament at Westminster in the United Kingdom. It was acquired by the Boyces in 1937 when the gothic ornaments were replaced on the ancient structure.

The Boyces had many tennis parties, as was customary in many large Toowoomba gardens from the 1930s onwards.

Flower garden

Established in the 1930s, this English Cottage inspired flower garden is one of the most demanding to care for and maintain on the property, but is one of the most significant to retain, as it is today a rare example of that style of garden.

Across the terrace is the walled garden with more camellias and ferns, including a Cape Chestnut tree. The Boyces wrote in 1969: "the flower garden is used for growing cut flowers for the house and for giving away for concerts of the ABC and local Chamber Music Society and the like."

As an avid gardener, Mrs Boyce continually experimented with new species, including varieties of daffodils, irises, liliums, South African proteas – Leucadendron species—and rhododendrons, to understand which flourished in the Toowoomba environment—records which serve Toowoomba gardeners well today. The garden records continue to be maintained by the Boyce Estate Manager, and access to the Margaret and Leslie Boyce papers are available by appointment from the Fryer Library, The University of Queensland.

Serpentine wall and parklands

The serpentine wall mimics the famous structure in the gardens at Oxford University, United Kingdom. The terraced garden beds feature birds nest ferns and azaleas, as well as a Cape Chestnut tree on the lower terrace with staghorns and orchids.

Beyond this area are the parklands, which used to be a dairy farm. Developed since 1976, the parklands have become a showplace for specimen trees, native and exotic, planted around the perimeter, with a centre field open to the public.

At the west border, gardeners have planted a mixed border of hibiscus, peaches, cherries, crab apple, wisteria, lavender, belladonna, Crinum—spider and day—lilies.

The Toowoomba External Studies Building, on the southern side of the park, was established in 1974

Southern Cross windmill

The iconic Southern Cross windmill was used from 1929–2007 for sub-artesian water, providing water for the garden until the bore casing rusted through and became too costly to repair.

It is named for the Southern Cross Corporation, where Dr Boyce spent most of his career and which had originally been established by his grandfather, George Washington Griffiths. Dr Boyce began his career at Southern Cross Corporation in 1914 as an engineering cadet, but during World War I, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps of the Commonwealth. He then enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force but was seriously wounded and discharged a few years later.

In 1919, he started work at Southern Cross Corporation again, and in 1925, was appointed Chief Executive Officer — a role he continued until retirement in 1957. He remained a Director until 1976 and an Associate Director until 1987.

"Southern Cross has never ceased to be a vital part of my life."
Dr LA Boyce, 1987