The brilliant young Horticulturalist William Davidson was presented with this silver medal by the Botanical and Horticultural Society in 1827, in the UK, at the age of 23, for the best Dish of Mushrooms, amongst other horticultural prizes. The following year be arrived in Van Diemen’s Land and was appointed First Superintendant of the Hobarton Botanical Gardens, by Governor Arthur, on a salary of £100/- p.a, with the surviving Gothic Gardener’s Cottage built for him.
During this time, until his death at the age 33, he was to turn the gardens from a ramshackle mess, into the Botanical showplace of the Colony, exploring the temperate range of species able to be grown. In addition he had built the surviving flued brick walls, extensive hot houses, and formed the present layout and pinetum. He corresponded extensively with J.C Loudon in London and other inter colonial Botanic gardens & plant collectors.
a / vf dia 50mm (2″).
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