High Street Echuca Palm Trees

This magnificent avenue of  Palm Trees was planted in High Street, Echuca by Adam Alton, the council's  head gardener or Curator as he was called.  

High Street, Echuca, c. 1930s

Photographer: Rose Stereograph Co. 

State Library of Victoria image H32492/5567

They were planted in 1915, as noted in this article from the Riverine Herald - 

Street Improvement - The gardens in High-street have now been formed, and young palm trees, protected by wire netting, planted along the centre. Powerful gas lamps have been placed of each end and at the middle of the gardens, and were lighted for the first time last night. The result is very satisfactory, the roadway and pavements on either-side being splendidly illuminated. (1)

The young Palm Trees in High Street, with the water tower in the background.

Image: Echuca-Moama History Facebook page, 

from a post by Bruce Colyer on August 25, 2026.

In August 1948, the Riverine Herald published an article with the head-line Beauty and Charm in Trees and it had this to say about the Palm Trees and the man who planted them - 

But the crowning, achievement in street beautification was the establishment of the row of palms in High street; frequently referred to by visitors and tourists as one of Echuca's outstanding attractions. To the late Mr Adam Alton, who was then curator, must be given the credit for this fine plantation. A source of wonder to strangers, and possibly to some of our newer citizens, is the even growth of these palms and how it was obtained. There was no magic about it.

The late Mr Alton knew his job from A to Z, and the first thing he did was to prepare the required amount of soil, even throughout, in texture and fertility. Each hole dug for the reception of the young palms then had exactly the same quantity of this soil placed in it so that, when the palms, also selected for uniformity of growth, were put in their permanent positions, they all got off to an even start. Those beautiful palms stand today as a monument to a fine horticulturist, who also planned and laid out that charming spot, the Alton Reserve so named in his honor. (2)

Mr Alton died in March 1916 and the Riverine Herald published the following obituary -

Obituary. Mr Adam Alton.

There passed away at his residence in Watson-street last evening Mr. Adam Alton, a striking personality of the town of Echuca. Mr. Alton, who was 70 years of age, was a native of Glandsheen, county Dublin, Ireland, and came to Australia 50 years ago. He arrived in Echuca in 1870, and after having been in the service of the late Mr. James Mackintosh and the late Mr. Leonard as gardener, was engaged by the Borough Council as curator some 25 years ago. In this capacity he did a great deal to beautify the town, and his abilities as a landscape gardener are evidenced by the improvement of the Victoria Park and the laying out of the Alton Reserve, which will be a lasting memorial of his name. The Alton Reserve is remembered by residents, comparatively young in years, as a waste heap of rubbish. To-day it is one of the beauty spots of the town. The transformation has been entirely due to the late Mr. Alton, encouraged by successive borough councillors, who realised the elevating influence which color and the beauty of flower and verdure had upon the people.

The late Mr. Alton was a man of strong personality, and what was his will was generally found to be the way. His ability and discernment in horticulture were readily recognised, and warranted the liberty he was given in deciding what was best to be done to improve the amenities of the streets and gardens. Mr. Alton had not been in very good health for the past twelve months, but his indomitable spirit sustained him. On Saturday last he was about the park as usual, but in the afternoon he had to give way to an attack to which he succumbed about 8 o'clock last night after much suffering. Mr. Alton was predeceased by his wife by about ten years, and is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Hawke, of Brighton, and Miss Alton, Echuca. The residents of Echuca will extend to them their sympathy in the loss of a kind father, knowing that in him the public have lost a faithful servant. The funeral is to take place this afternoon, leaving Mr. Alton's late residence in Watson-street at 4.30 o'clock. (3)

To be honest, if the Palms were planted by Mr Alton in 1915, it would mean that he was 69 when they were planted. No impossible of course, but he was getting on in years. Perhaps he supervised the job. There is evidence, however, that he was still working in  August 1914, so it seems he only retired shortly before he passed away. (4)

The Palm Trees have been removed. In 1949 some local councillors were in favour of their removal due to increased traffic and parking issues, but they were retained. (5)  When were they removed? The Echuca-Moama History Facebook page published a post by Bruce Colyer on August 25, 2026 on the Palm Trees  (and included the photo of the young palms, above). Colin Barthelson, in his comment on this post said the Palms were removed in 1972. 

Footnotes
(1) Riverine Herald, August 13, 1915, see here.
(2) Riverine Herald, August 20, 1948, see here.

(3) Riverine Herald, March 2, 1916, see here. You can read a report of his funeral in the Riverine Herald of March 3, 1916, here.

(4) Bendigo Advertiser, January 31, 1913, see here; Riverine Herald, August 1, 1914, see here.

(5) Riverine Herald, September 13, 1949, see here