John Arthur Templer

From The Orange Wiki

Although his time in Orange was relatively short-lived, John Arthur Templer played a significant role in the development of the fledgling town of Orange and the establishment of Cook Park as a public precinct.

Born in England in 1817, Templer migrated to Australia in 1840 and settled in Wellington. The following year he was appointed a Magistrate of the Territory. In 1844 Templer married Rosamond Mary Darvall, and in 1847 moved to Narrambla, where he established one of the district’s first flour mills. It was here, on 17 February 1864, that the couple’s great nephew, Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson was born.

In 1848 John sat on the inaugural bench of Petty Sessions at Fredericks Valley, and in 1853 was appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands at Orange. In his capacity as commissioner John determined that the 4.5 hectare area of land which had been set aside for commercial sale be retained as a reserve for public recreation. It was a further 20 years until the site was proclaimed a park; until then it was a meeting place and campground for the district’s Wiradjuri and teamsters journeying west.

Officially named after Captain James Cook in 1882, the park was laid out as a Victorian style public park with the Union Jack marked out by pathways and ordered lawns and colourful flowerbeds.

By 1869 Templer had sold his interests in the area and migrated to New Zealand. John Templer died in Christchurch in 1885, aged 68 years. He had spent just over 20 years in the Orange district but had ensured that the area that became known as Cook Park was retained for public enjoyment and recreation.