 In April 1887 suburban section 68 was added, to create a reserve of over .A further was added in May 1892, when swampy land lying between the recreation reserve and the railway line was incorporated into the reserve, including an area at the foot of Mountt Islay, west of Saltwater Creek, previously cultivated by Chinese market gardeners under special lease.In December 1886 the Cairns Municipal Council came to an agreement with Eugene Fitzalan, a trained botanist, to establish an ornamental garden on the recreation reserve, sufficiently attractive to entice the public.