In those days, as a contemporary painting (below, far right) shows, the hillside was bare, a sharp contrast to today's thick vegetation. The original painting is in the Otago Settlers Museum.
When it was established in 1863, the Dunedin Botanic Garden was in an area between Leith and Castle streets, part of what is now the University of Otago. After heavy flooding in February 1868, the decision was made to move, and work on the present site began in winter 1869.
Conceived as a step in linking the upper garden with the lower, the Southern African collection lies just above the Mediterranean Garden, so visitors coming into the upper garden move through rhododendrons to African natives, down to the new collection.
It's the last in a suite of projects from the 1991 Botanic Garden development plan, collections supervisor Barbara Wheeler says of the Mediterranean Garden.
"The site was always identified as the perfect place to grow a wide variety of Mediterranean plants," Ms Wheeler said.
Work was to begin in March 2009 but was delayed for eight months so the New Zealand Historic Places Trust could ensure any historical activities on this site were recorded.
His aim was threefold, he said - to take advantage of the view and the location (the site selection was excellent), and give a nod towards the Italianate and Roman styles.
"I'm pretty happy with it, as it's done all those things," Mr Field said.
He admitted that a giant macrocarpa (Cupressus macrocarpa) at the northern end of the site did present some problems, "but you're not going to chop it down".
Although it was a native of California, it could be "an honorary Mediterranean tree", as it was related to the Italian cypresses (C. sempervirens) in the new garden, although they are slender trees that grow only to about 4m.
"In 10 years' time, those tall pencils [the Italian cypresses] will give a wonderful perspective," Mr Field said.
Once the design was approved, the work of sourcing plants began - not always a simple matter, as the commitment was to grow species only. Allison Booth, Robyn Freeth and Dylan Norfield prepared a plant list, which was developed into a planting plan.
A primary source was the International Seed Exchange (ISE), whose list included a range of Mediterranean collections, including the Jerusalem Botanic Gardens. Seed obtained through the ISE was propagated by Dunedin Botanic Garden staff. Many New Zealand nurseries also supplied plants.
There were occasional hiccups.
"A good example is the cypress. We couldn't get the species but there is a cultivar, 'Totem', that looks very similar, so we've used that," Ms Wheeler said.
Working on the Mediterranean Garden gave valuable experience to staff, apprentices and Otago Polytechnic students, she said.
Under the direction of tutor Alan Ferguson, the students built the Mediterranean Garden's stone steps - "It gave them a real-life project," Ms Wheeler said - while Botanic Garden staff learned a great deal about rock work as the garden was built.
The project cost was $348,000, made up of significant contributions from the estate of longtime Botanic Garden supporter Nancye Sime, and a donation from Richard and Barbara Calvert, supported by grants from the Otago Community Trust and the Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden.
The Mediterranean Garden is the last of the projects approved 10 years ago, but work enhancing the Botanic Garden continues, as a 2006 development plan is now being worked on.
"There's a whole raft of projects within that plan," Ms Wheeler said.
