The latest plan to appropriate the gardens for non-recreation services such as a combined multi-purpose facility has a long line of precedents.
In the 1890's the former City of Fitzroy, was in keen competition with arch rival Collingwood. When Collingwood succeeded in a building a railway, Fitzroy had to have one too. Unfortunately this spur was directed right through the Edinburgh Gardens, from Mark Street to Queens Parade. Then a can factory and a briquette factory was built on the south of the gardens. The railway remained in the gardens until the 1980's, and a locomotive remained till 1997. The bike path follows the line of the original railway. A railway footbridge was only recently removed.
In the 1930's the main north-west boulevard of the gardens was moved to allow the cricket ground to expand the viewing area. A dog leg was inserted into the once straight path, just norht of the tennis courts, which also expanded at this time. The original alignment of the boulevard can be seen in an ariel photo from the 1920's.
Buildings that distract from the historic quality of the gardens include the centennial pavilion, an the back of the bowling club. The old gardeners cottage was rebuilt in the 1960's as a cream brick veneer, and rebadged as International House.
The Maternal and Child Health Centre should never have been erected in the gardens as it is not compatible with the title on the crown grant. Nevertheless, it was common practice in the 1960's and these centres were built here and in Darling Gardens.
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