In the period 1878–1917 the Cooktown Municipal Council established a formal botanical garden and recreational playing fields on a small part of the reserve closest to town.

Apart from improving an existing dray road to the ocean and establishing walking tracks, the bulk of the reserve remained largely undeveloped.

The establishment of these reserves also reflected an enormous public interest, formerly the preserve of governments and wealthy private individuals (such as English botanist Joseph Banks), in experimenting with the commercial and scientific values of exotic trees and plants and indigenous Australian flora.

In 1889 responsibility was transferred to the newly created Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock, which through a subsidy system allocated in proportion to local subscription, encouraged greater experimentation with exotic plant species for commercial and scientific purposes.

The new Department worked closely with the privately-supported Queensland Acclimatisation Society (based in Brisbane), and established the Kamerunga State Nursery near Cairns in the late 1880s.

[1] Moves within Cooktown to establish a botanical gardens were underway from at least October 1876, when the Cooktown Municipal Council resolved to apply to the Queensland Colonial Government for land between the town and Finch's Bay (already a popular recreational venue) for the purpose of a water reserve, recreation ground and botanical garden.

The area also had historical connections with the work of naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, members of the 1770 exploratory voyage of HMS Endeavour, under the command of Lieutenant James Cook, along the east coast of Australia.

By July 1878 some fencing had been erected and in August–September 1878 the Council appointed a caretaker/gardener and offered £10 for a suitable plan of laying out a botanical gardens on a small section of the best land in the reserve (nearest the town).

During 1879 structural development was undertaken, including roadworks, fencing, drains, and the establishment of a nursery on the eastern side of the hill facing Finch's Bay, stocked with plants from the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.

Along with the renewed interest in the formal gardens, development of the recreation reserve as a sporting facility was resumed, the playing field being upgraded and a concrete cricket pitch laid in 1888.

Through the early years of the 20th century, the Trustees managed to maintain the gardens and recreation grounds to a reasonable standard, but little new work was undertaken.

[1] In 1912, the Queensland government ceased giving subsidies to reserves for special improvements, although they still received the usual endowment of 7/6 in the pound on subscriptions and donations.

[1] In 1984 Cook Shire Council commenced reconstruction of the formal botanical gardens, comprising approximately 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres), with the assistance of Commonwealth Employment Funding.

[1] Gallop Botanic Reserve contains 62.3216 hectares (154.000 acres) and lies approximately 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the centre of Cooktown.

[1] The reserve incorporates: Cooktown Botanic Gardens; an early sports field and concrete cricket pitch; two granite quarries with evidence of hand-quarrying technology; walking tracks; and Finch's Bay Road.

[1] Although adaptations to the formal gardens occurred in the 1980s, there is substantial physical evidence to suggest that the layout is broadly similar to that developed in the period 1878-1917.

This is particularly significant because of the association of Cooktown and its environs with the important work of naturalists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, who collected extensive plant specimens from the district in 1770.

Finch's Bay, part of which is contained within the Gallop Botanic Reserve, has had an important association with Cooktown residents for over 120 years as a place of recreation.

The Cooktown Botanic Gardens has a special association for the local community with the establishment and development of their town in the last quarter of the 19th century.

Since 1980, Cook Shire Council has invested in the restoration and re-development of the formal gardens and recreation grounds as an historical tourist attraction.