The Halifax Public Gardens are more than an open space or park. They are a rare example of a formal Victorian public garden surviving intact and relatively unspoiled in the heart of a modern city.
Officially opened in 1867 The Halifax Public Gardens have survived for more than a century. Thanks to a series of talented and dedicated superintendents they have been little altered and still retain much of their original Victorian character.
The Gardens were designated as a National Historic Site in 1984. The Friends of the Public Gardens, a non-profit organization, incorporated as a society in 1984 is dedicated to the preservation, enhancement and protection of the Public Gardens for the continued enjoyment of everyone.
Similar to all true Victorian gardens, the Public Gardens contains a series of statues and fountains. These include the statues Flora, Ceres, Diana, the Nymph Jubilee Fountain and the Soldier’s Memorial Fountain.
The aim of the urban Victorian garden was to display a great variety of plants in a confined space. Confined, that is, by the standards of aristocratic country estates or the great landscape gardens of the eighteenth century. The Halifax Public Gardens, filled with a wide variety of species, large and small, from near and far, has more than achieved this aim.
While the colourful display of plants and flowers is one of the chief reasons for the garden’s popularity, its tranquil atmosphere is also an element in attracting visitors. The abundance and variety of bird life found in this unique retreat are an integral part of the area’s delightful setting.
Open Daily: mid May to mid November
Visit their website for current details.
