[1][3] In 1854 the whole block which became Cook Park was withdrawn from public auction and retained as open space at the south west corner of the township.

The reserve was naturally swampy: Mr Sheridan recalled how his friend Harry Albon talked of paddling there and catching frogs and tadpoles as a small boy in the 1870s.

[1] Lawns and flower beds, and a gravel walk, conservatory and two pavilions were also constructed; from there on the park developed and took shape.

The cottage/lodge was named Bastick Cottage to honour former parks and gardens supervisors (father and son) who gave a total of 90 years service to Orange.

A delightful set of photographs of Cook Park was published in the Orange District Guide for 1908 and gives a good basis for modern comparison.

They were made by Dick Venebles of Parkes and paid for by funds raised by holding a sham fight and military display at the Gosling Creek Water Reserve.

[1][3] The park was classified by the National Trust of Australia (NSW) in 1976, with special reference to the bandstand, fountain, conservatory, main entrance gates and the mature trees.

[6][1] Alfred Andrew Patterson (c. 1859[a]–1932), surveyor and gardener, was born in Drottningholm, Sweden and graduated from Uppsala University.

Following a severe illness he worked as a gardener for merchant James Dalton, at Duntryleague, Orange, an 1870s mansion set in magnificent grounds.

[1] The basic philosophy behind the Parks and Gardens Movement in Europe was that space was essential for human wellbeing and a healthier society.

The design of ornamental parks relied, in particular, on the planting of trees and shrubs to control views and to highlight contrasts in form, colour, texture, light and shade.

[1] In Australia where heavy industrialisation was not yet such a concern, ornamental parks, while relying on similar design principles, were provided more to beautify urban centres and as symbols of civic pride.

[1][8] In 1900 and 1901 Patterson was seconded by the NSW Government to organise the floral displays for the Federation celebrations in Centennial Park, Sydney and the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King & Queen).

Cook Park is an area of 4 hectares (10 acres) bounded by Summer, Sampson, Kite and Clinton Streets, with plantings dating from at least the 1880s (the cedars).

[1] The park has two sets of notable cast iron gates (1890 and 1927) mark the imposing entrances from the main street corners.

[10][1] Tree plantings that are among the oldest remaining today include: English elms (Ulmus procera); London planes (Platanus x hybrida); New Zealand cabbage tree (Cordyline australis); Lawson cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana); English oak (Quercus robur); linden/lime (Tilia cordata); redwood or big tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) - one of the oldest trees in the park; holly (Ilex aquifolium); stone pine (Pinus pinea) and bull bay/ evergreen magnolia (M.grandiflora) both near Spencer Road; Algerian oak (Quercus macrocarpa); two large Himalayan cedars (Cedrus deodara); Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii); Arizona cypress (Cupressus glabra/C.lusitanica); English ash (Fraxinus excelsior); blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' ); Bhutan cypress (Cupressus torulosa); cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus); swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum); Western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa); golden willow (Salix matsudana 'Aurea' ); NZ flax (Phormium tenax); strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo); Photinia glabra (trunk over 1 metre (3 ft) diameter); bay laurel hedge (Laurus nobilis); sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua); Indiana bean tree (Catalpa bignonioides); coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens); camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora).

[1][11] Other mature plantings (probably dating from across the 20th century) include: English elms (Ulmus procera) forming a c. 60—year old avenue along one of the diagonal paths near Kite and Clinton Streets in the park's south-east corner; Rhododendron spp./cv.s; tree tulip (Magnolia x soulangeana); pin oak (Quercus palustris); horse chestnut (Aesculus sp.

); maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba); Japanese laurel (Euonymus japonicus); blue spruce (Picea pungens cv.

); Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii); copper beech (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea' ); lemon verbena (Backhousia citriodora); lemonwood/tarata (Pittosporum eugenioides); beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis); funeral cypress (Cupressus funebris); Camellia japonica cv.s; Lavalle's hawthorn (Crataegus x lavallei); golden elm (Ulmus hollandica 'Louis van Houttei' ); Abelia bifida; crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica), Indian hawthorn (Raphiolepis indica); port wine magnolia (Michelia figo); golden elm (Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens' ); holly/holm/evergreen oak (Quercus ilex); two weeping Wych elms (Ulmus glabra 'Pendula' ); and Chinese elm (Ulmus sinensis).

Storms have led to damage and loss of over-mature trees, for instance lightning strikes on a mature English oak (Quercus robur).

Situated adjacent to the town's main street, the park has outstanding mature plantings and many fine features.

This collection includes, elms, oaks, lindens, poplars, redwoods, cypresses, firs, ash and walnuts, with two Bunya pines and one Tasmanian blue gum.

These paths focus on many items of interest, including a bandstand (1908), fountains (from 1891), a parkman's lodge (c. 1890), conservatory (1934), fernery (1938), ponds (from 1890), aviaries (c. 1930), artillery pieces (1870 and 1917), and two fine sets of gates from the turn of the 20th century.

The park has state significance expressed in intact depression era projects including the fernery, Blowes conservatory and the Frank Mulholland Memorial Garden.

[1] Cook Park was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 24 August 2018 having satisfied the following criteria.

[1] The park has state significance expressed in intact depression era projects including the fernery, Blowes conservatory and the Frank Mulholland Memorial Garden.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

[1] The place has potential to yield information that will contribute to an understanding of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

These trees possess a high degree of rarity in Australia as exotics and are particularly suited to the cool winter climate of Orange.

Such characteristics of the class include location within or close to the town centre, extensive exotic mature plantings, and central visual element such as rotunda/performance space, water feature/s, and fountain/memorial sculpture.