Location
2 Eton St, Sutherland NSW 2232
About the garden
Forby Sutherland Memorial Garden features displays of floral colour all year round. This small park contains a fountain with pool, bench seating and a sensory garden. A flat, grassed area is perfect for picnics and children to play on.
The garden beds
Forby Sutherland Memorial Garden has a dedicated on-site horticulture team. The annuals in the garden beds are updated three times a year. Perennials, shrubs and trees form a picturesque backdrop.
The sensory garden
A sensory garden was installed in 2021, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Forby Sutherland Memorial Garden. Designed to stimulate the senses, the sensory garden features two 'flower talk' tubes and a climbable ladybird stone sculpture, in addition to the sounds of the pool and fountain, and the bright blooms of the garden beds.
History of the garden
The garden is a place not only to relax and enjoy but also serves as a significant and enduring reminder of the history of Sutherland Shire.
A proposal to create a garden park on this site in the late 60s sought to mark the bicentenary of the landing of Lieutenant James Cook and the crew of the HMS Endeavour in 1970. It was brought to the attention of the planning committee that a memorial park would be a suitable project and that the honour of the name should go to Forby Sutherland.
The decision to create a memorial garden in memory of the seaman of the Endeavour was made in 1969. A bronze plaque at the Eton Street entrance is inscribed with a dedication to the crew. The memorial garden officially opened in 1971.
In 1972, the Sutherland Shire Historical Society donated an historic milestone marker. Milestones were once common on major roads leading out of Sydney. The stone is marker 17 from the original 1890s to 1909 mail coach run. Today is it located on the southwest side of the garden.
The garden is a beautiful location for small weddings, wedding photos and picnics. Book the gardens
The Memorial Garden is close to Peace Park and the Chuo City Garden, and the Sutherland Entertainment Centre.
Public toilets, including a fully accessible toilet facility, are located on the ground floor of the adjoining Council Administration Building, open 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays. Public toilets are also available at Sutherland Library a short walk from the park. Both buildings have ramps.
There are two accessible pathways into the park. One is on the corner of Old Princes Highway and Eton Street. The other is at the corner of Old Princes Highway and Merton Street. The garden itself is not accessible by wheelchair.
The park is a ten-minute walk from Sutherland Railway Station. There is a carpark nearby, on the corner of Old Princes Highway and Merton Street and a large car park on Flora Street.
