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Cook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSW
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The park was named Cook Park, presumably after the Centenary of Caption James Cook’s arrival in Australia in 1770. However, it did not officially take on this name until 1882 and a bust of Captain Cook was placed in the park, which was subsequently removed.
In 1887 work began to beautify Cook and Robertson Parks. When the railway line was opening in the town in 1877, Cook Park was utilised for the celebrations.
The park was formally laid out by the first person employed as caretaker, Alfred Andrew Patterson (1859-1932), a surveyor who was working at Duntryleague due to illness as gardener in 1885. It was his surveying skills that were so useful in the public design.
The first lake was built in the current sunken garden in 1890 and by 1891, Cook Park had been beautifully laid out with flower beds. Cook Park continued to evolve with a caretaker’s cottage being built in 1887, Dalton Fountain installed in 1891, main gates at on the corner of Summer and Clinton placed in 1892, a fernery completed and by 1908 a band rotunda was presented to Cook Park by the Orange Town Bank.
The park was named Cook Park, presumably after the Centenary of Caption James Cook’s arrival in Australia in 1770. However, it did not officially take on this name until 1882 and a bust of Captain Cook was placed in the park, which was subsequently removed.
In 1887 work began to beautify Cook and Robertson Parks. When the railway line was opening in the town in 1877, Cook Park was utilised for the celebrations.
The park was formally laid out by the first person employed as caretaker, Alfred Andrew Patterson (1859-1932), a surveyor who was working at Duntryleague due to illness as gardener in 1885. It was his surveying skills that were so useful in the public design.
The first lake was built in the current sunken garden in 1890 and by 1891, Cook Park had been beautifully laid out with flower beds. Cook Park continued to evolve with a caretaker’s cottage being built in 1887, Dalton Fountain installed in 1891, main gates at on the corner of Summer and Clinton placed in 1892, a fernery completed and by 1908 a band rotunda was presented to Cook Park by the Orange Town Bank.
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NotesA particularly fine park (possibly the finest Victorian town park in NSW), of approx. 4 hectares, with almost all the characteristic features intact. It has historic, streetscape, individual merit. It has been reserved for open space since 1854, and proclaimed in 1873. It was laid out in 1890s.
The Park contains an outstanding display of well grown trees and buildings of significance in the development of the City of Orange.
The Park contains an outstanding display of well grown trees and buildings of significance in the development of the City of Orange.
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SubjectsParksCook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSWPeopleTom Patterson Francis James MulhollandPlaceCook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSWOrganisationOrange City CouncilCollectionOrange City Council
Cook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSWPeopleTom Patterson Francis James MulhollandPlaceCook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSWOrganisationOrange City CouncilCollectionOrange City Councilloading google map....
Cook Park, Summer Street, Orange, NSW. Central West Libraries, accessed 02/05/2026, https://centralwest.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/3511
