The Pearson Conservatory was opened on 12 September 1882 by Honourable John X Merriman, the then commissioner of Works for the Cape Colony. The structure consists of a centre building and two wings. The centre building has a fountain in the centre with a large basin and on either side it is enclosed with plants. The central fountain still is the original fountain that was imported from the UK in 1882.
The lights in the front of the building were removed from the Old Mayoral Garden in front of the City Hall and re-used here as well as the sandstone paving on the internal pathways. The ironwork and over 98% of the woodwork are original and a good proportion of the glass also dates back to 1882.
The ventilation was geared. The roof ventilators was hand operated as well as the individual side windows. These days there is a backup electrical fan system for ventilation and heating when there are no staff on duty. They used to heat the water by boiler and hot-water pipes, but it has been omitted since.
It is sad that many buildings of that period have been lost, mainly as a result of hasty decisions based on assumptions that repairs would be prohibitively expensive. In Port Elizabeth's case, demolition of the Pearson Conservatory was briefly considered in 1972, but it was rejected by City Council.
The park has winter and summer times:
Winter: 08:00 - 18:00
Summer: 08:00 - 19:00