Just five years after Mrs. Albert York first started work on that beautiful headland garden in Stewart Street it was officially named “Mrs York’s Garden” at a ceremony on Tuesday afternoon. The name plate was unveiled by the mayor, Ald. C. C. Adams, after the garden had been blessed by Archdeacon A. E. Warr. The garden sweeps around the headland which overlooks the harbour entrance. In paying tribute to Mrs. York’s efforts, the chairman of the Tourist Authority, Mr. A. L. Crisp, said that only a few years ago, it was felt that nothing could be done with the headlands due to the north-east winds.

“The achievements of Mrs. York have thrown the lie back in our faces,” he said.

In thanking everyone for their praise, Mrs. York said she had as much pleasure in establishing the garden as townspeople and visitors had in enjoying its beauty. She said it made her very happy when sick or troubled people gained solace in her garden, or when garden lovers came to see what can grow on the foreshores. Ald. Adams and Mr. Crisp planted Sesanqua trees near the lily pond at the western end of the garden. After a posy of flowers was presented to Mrs. York by the Garden Club president, Mrs. Monger, the party enjoyed a fifth birthday cake made by Mrs. Jessie Blair.

In his address the mayor, Ald. C. C. Adams, said: “Five years ago this headland could well be described as a piece of no man’s land, abounding in long grasses, noxious weeds, and generally an unkept area. The land was formally held by the Department of Lands and following a request by Mrs. York, with the support of our local Municipal Council the area was gazetted as a Floral Reserve.

“From this point on Mrs. York took over the beautification of the Reserve contributing almost all of the finance necessary to establish this lovely garden that lies before us today.”

A small grant was secured from the Department of Public Works and council contributed on a dollar for dollar basis.

“This Grant was used to establish kerb and guttering and the provision of the fence. With the commencement of the beautification scheme, enthusiasm has advanced to a stage whereby the whole of this headland stretching, as it does from Tomb Stone Hill around to Flag Staff Point could well be one of our town’s major Tourist attractions, and who will deny that beautiful landscapes with the ocean as a background, such as we have here will not create a great deal of attention and I should suggest very favourable comment.

“Being our Sesqui-Centenary year, our enthusiastic Garden Club has accepted as a project, the conversion of the area surrounding Tomb Stone Hill as an extension of Mrs. York’s Garden.”

On the Eastern end of Mrs. York’s Garden there is a plan for the gradual beautification of this area up to the Lions Club Project.

“In consideration of a grand civic effort and to mark the appreciation of the Municipal Council on behalf of the Community I hereby name this lovely area as “Mrs. York’s Garden”.