Gardening with Margaret Matthews
More about pioneer nurseryman Carl Nobelius
by Margaret Matthews
Margaret Matthews continues her exploration of the pioneer nurseryman, Carl Axel Nobelius, who was so influential in the establishment of Emerald and the shape of the Dandenongs landscape.
Nobelius’ ‘Gembrook Nurseries’ business collapsed during the First World War when it was no longer possible to export stock, and at that period three parts of the existing stock was burnt to the ground in order to make room for new trees. The fine ornamental trees, which today are a feature of the council’s Emerald Park, are some of those allowed to grow freely as a result of restricted markets.
The bearded Carl Axel Nobelius liked his little joke and always spoke of his "two and a half-dozen children". He actually had eight: three daughters and five sons. One daughter, Hilda, married Henry Taylor, among the first to find gold at Smith’s Creek, Macclesfield, in 1893. Taylor later became famous as a songwriter and was responsible for ‘I’ll be your sweetheart and you’ll be mine’ and other popular songs of the day. Around the turn of the century Nobelius’ old packing shed was the scene of many a good concert and few of the performers were lacking in talent.
Arch Nobelius, son of Carl, and his elder brothers, Oscar and Percy, were the principal nursery assistants during the firm’s hey-day, while Clifford L Nobelius undertook the clerical work and became manager when the nursery was later bought by a company, A V, R W and C L Nobelius, the last members of the family in the district. When the nursery was sold after Carl Axel’s death in 1921, a syndicate bought the property. The nursery business was sold to the Nicholas (‘Aspro’) family, who in turn sold it to C L Nobelius, who retained the nursery until its sale in 1955 when it passed from the family.
The Nobelius home, ‘Carramar’ was operated as temporary clubrooms of the Country Club. The new building, which included local pink stone in its construction, was completed in 1929 and the Emerald Country Club still operates.
Many books have been written about the history of Emerald and the remarkable C A Nobelius who was the prime mover and catalyst of much of it. Two of the sources of this article are acknowledged below. There is much more to learn about the Country Club and the well-known Victorians associated with it.
The thriving township is thronged with visitors each weekend. Emerald was for a time re-christened Wandon Valley when some episodes of the ‘soapie’ Country Practice were filmed there.
Autumn is the perfect time to visit Emerald, to picnic by the lake and, above all, admire the venerable trees in their autumn glory.
Margaret Matthews gardening archive page
