Rainforest Valley

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Boyces purchased the land in 1929, which comprised a spur of eucalyptus woodland, a section of natural rainforest, and a run-down dairy farm. They cleared lantana and blackberry, ringbarked and poisoned exotic trees like camphor laurel, and let them die where they stood. Seedlings sprouted, and they pulled them out to prevent reinfestation. The Boyces introduced about fifteen new native species to the area, all native to Queensland but not originally present. They established a plantation of hoop pines on the eastern border to provide initial protection and used a built-in rain-like fine spray watering system, many years before such devices were common. Today the rainforest canopy is more than thirty metres high.

In Their Own Story

After their wedding on 29 April 1930, Leslie and Margaret Boyce moved into their house on the property. They lived and gardened there for the rest of their lives. Margaret died in 1984 and Leslie in 1988; their ashes were scattered in the garden. In May 1969, the Boyces gave the estate to the University of Queensland in trust, to hold the land in perpetuity for educational purposes and to preserve and maintain the gardens and natural forest for use as a Botanic Garden and Natural Forest for the education of the public. In 1973, Leslie Boyce was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Queensland for his contribution to education. Until their deaths, the Boyces continued as Curators of the property, which they also endowed to provide a perpetual maintenance fund.

Reader's Guide

Boyce Gardens comprises several major component parts: the rainforest in the north-eastern corner, the pine forest along Mackenzie Street, the avocado orchard, displays of Australian flowering shrubs, tennis court, swimming pool, specialist garden areas including collections of ericas, proteas, roses, native orchids, camellias and azaleas, the walled garden, the compost pit, the house lawn, courtyard, rock gardens, the cut flower garden, and grassed areas to the south of the main garden. The house is two-story brick with a bricked courtyard, extended on several occasions, retaining timber dado panelling, plaster ceilings with decorative cornice and ceiling details, and original decorative ironwork on the internal staircase. The rainforest contains only native trees, shrubs, climbers and ferns, including several varieties of fig, Queensland Lace Bark, Lilli Pilli, Red Cedar, Deep Yellow Wood, Ribbon Wood, Hoop Pine, Silky Oak, Birds Nest Ferns, tree ferns, and many varieties of ground fern. The avocado orchard, planted in 1952, includes some citrus trees. The White Garden is a circular hollow with creepers, treeferns, staghorns, camellias and hydrangeas.

Did You Know?

• The rainforest on the property was known in the 19th century as the Fairy Glen Scrub.
• The Boyces introduced about fifteen new native species to the rainforest, all native to Queensland but not originally present.
• The avocado orchard was planted in 1952 and includes some citrus trees.
• Margaret Boyce experimented with dozens of varieties of daffodils, iris, Liliums, and rhododendrons to see which would grow in Toowoomba.
• The Boyces gave the estate to the University of Queensland in May 1969, to be held in perpetuity for educational purposes.