The Gardens
The gardens were formally established in 1859 when a boundary fence was erected. By 1907 significant donations of money and plant material had led to the establishment of a rosary, extensive flower beds and a nursery. Exotic forest trees were planted during the 1870s and Australian species were included in 1932.
Registered with Heritage Victoria, the gardens contain 810 mature tree specimens eight of which are on the significant tree register. In the 1950s the Alister Clarke Rose Garden was established and a Sub-Tropical Rain-forest conservatory added in the early 1990's. Seasonal displays and local indigenous plants provide a valuable collection to study or sit alongside enjoying a picnic.
Built features in the gardens include a giant chess board, ornamental pond with Rain Man fountain, children's play space, gazebo, glasshouses and the Eco-centre which facilitates lessons on sustainable living practice. Rain Man is a key element to the ornamental pond and was installed in 2005, designed by Corey Thomas and Ken Arnold he runs on solar power and recycled water from the pond.
For more information on the Gardens see http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/st_kilda_botanic.htm
The geocache
This 8-stage multi should take less than an hour to complete and is wholly within the gardens (expect for one waypoint which takes you briefly outside). It can be very busy on warm weekends, but the final cache location should be fairly muggle-free.
The waypoints
The initial co-ordinates will take you to the entrance at the corner of Dickens and Tennyson Streets. From here go to:
Waypoint 1: 37 52.300 144 59.119
How many rabbits on motorcycles are here? (include broken ones) = A
Waypoint 2: 37 52.[ (26 * A) + 6 ] 144 59.[(9*A)-1]
How old did the Chilean Wine Palm turn in 1945? = BC
Waypoint 3: 37 52.[(A*B*C)+53] 144 59.[A+B+C-8]
How many games of chess can be played simultaneously here? = D-1
Waypoint 4: 37 52.[(D+8)*A] 144 58.[(B+5)*A*A+((D*C)+1)]
How many large pots are here? = EF
Waypoint 5: 37 52.[E(F-1)B] 144 58.[(A*A*A)-B]
How many letters in the first word of the third line of the plaque? = G
Waypoint 6: 37 52.[(G*B*10)+A+B-E] 144 59.[(D*G)+13]
On what day in December 1990 did the Rotary Club of St Kilda present this structure to the City? = H
Waypoint 7: 37 52.[(H*D*A)+D+H+F-1] 144 59.[A*(F-H-1)]
How many pounds did Tilman Gloystein win for his design of the Gardens? = J
Cache location is:
37 52.[J*J*(A-F)+(B*D)-C+H] 144 59.[(G+E)*F-B]