Police Commander Murray River District Paul Smith turns the first sod for the Mulwala Community Garden, alongside Mulwala Police Sergeant Gary Lewis and consultant XXX.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The new Mulwala Community Garden at Mulwala Police Station will reflect times gone by, more than 100 years ago.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Back in the early 1900s, the police station housed the police officer and his family, and there was a garden leading to the station’s entrance.
Over the years, it became solely a police station and the garden disappeared.
But in mid 2022, today’s police sergeant Gary Lewis formally sought and obtained NSW Police approval to re-introduce a garden covering the yard in front of the police station and court house.
“I spoke to the Mulwala schools to see if they were interested coming on board using the garden once established,” Sgt Lewis said.
“They said ‘yes’ and a committee was formed in December 2022.”
The garden will be an asset for the whole community.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
The community garden will be a multi-faceted space.
Stage 1 will be formal, a rose garden along the path to the station’s entrance and stage 2 will be an edible garden site.
“It will be like yesteryear, reflecting how it used to look,” Sgt Lewis said.
“People can come and be hands on; there will be the sensory garden and picking flowers, and later there will be citrus trees.”
The sensory garden will stimulate and engage all the senses including sight, smell, touch and taste for therapeutic and educational purposes.
It was particularly special that the head of police in the Murray River Police District, Commander Paul Smith, a constable at Mulwala from 1989 to 1994, turned the first sod.
“It’s a really good community event and draws the police and community together,” Commander Smith said.
“It’s adding a special meaning to me because I spent five years here at this police station.
“I’ve always felt part of the community.”
Work gets underway after Commander Paul Smith turned the first SOD.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Commander Smith said the premises at the corner of Melbourne and Inglis Streets represented one of the oldest buildings in town and were Mulwala heritage.
“It is important it is maintained, that it goes on forever and this community garden will be something special to see rather than just lawn and concrete.”
Design of the garden was undertaken by a consultant who advised the Mulwala Community Garden Committee, headed by Sgt Lewis.
Project funding has enabled the project’s start and will be ongoing.
9°C