Victoria Park, Hamilton

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Victoria Park from north-east entrance

Victoria Park is centrally located in the city of Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda. This is a public park that is opened daily to the public during daylight hours, and which is widely used as an entertainment venue for free concerts and the like. There is also a rather attractive bandstand in the middle of the park, installed in 1889 in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, and renewed in 2008.

The park also contains attractive flower gardens and several species of endemic plants and trees. The park takes up a full block, with a number of benches and public restrooms. The park is bordered by Victoria Street, Washington Street, Dundonald Street and Cedar Avenue. It is under the administration of the Corporation of Hamilton.

View of the bandstand
Plaque near north-west entrance

History

Victoria Park was the first public park created by the Corporation of Hamilton. The site was formerly known as 'Dean's Bottom': the name was from to the low lying, marshy tract of land here where Alfred Dean opened a recreational area for children attending a nearby school to play.

The land of Dean's Bottom remained in a natural state until the 1880s. At Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887, the City of Hamilton purchased the land and began to transform it into a public park, named for in honour of Queen. They also bought the bandstand, brought over the sea from Britain, though it was installed only in 1889. In 2008-2009 it received a comprehensive restoration.

Location

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