The Holtze Saga

There are many stories of Maurice’s “strange” horticultural practices and how the board members of the gardens regarded them. One story tells of them being outraged at Maurice for allowing people to walk on the lawns, men to smoke and women to bring in prams.

He began his journey with the gardens after his appointment as Government Gardener in Charge of plots at Doctors Gully. ( named after Drs. Robert Peel and Stokes Hill ). Frederick Shultze held the position originally but didn’t stay long due to the £150 pa salary. Mr Hill came next but died soon after from snakebite.

Maurice soon outgrew the gully and moved the site to Fannie Bay in 1879. When that became too small, he moved to where the gardens are today. He experimented with everything and soon became a household name. He grew tobacco and was renowned for his hand rolled cigars. The largest tobacco leaf measured 18” wide and 27” across. He processed Fuji silk spun by imported Chinese silkworms fed on bamboo leaves. He won many prizes at the Royal Sydney and Melbourne Shows with his cotton and rice exhibits and further afield in India.

He established the first position of a Forester for the NT (1888) to prevent the destruction of many of Darwin’s trees by woodcutters.

The Holtzes were enthusiastic photographers and their children also became expert with the camera. They did their own developing and printing. Fortunately this means a legacy of a substantial pictorial history of the family and Wynnis has included a number of these in the book. She has also been very generous to Friends with her gift of many of these photographs and horticultural prize certificates.

There is a full family history at the back of the book (with photographs of some of you locals) and space for your own family record. The Holtze Saga is available through the gardens office - $20.