ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɛvən hˈɛnɹi stˈiːvənz pɹəpˈoʊzd kənvˈɜːɾɪŋ ðɪ ˈɛɹiə tʊ ɐ pˈɑːɹk tə kəmˈɛmɚɹˌeɪt kwˈiːn vɪktˈoːɹiəz ɡˈoʊldən dʒˈuːbɪlˌiː, bˌʌt ɪt wʌz nˌɑːt ˈoʊpənd ʌntˈɪl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd tˈuː, ɐ jˈɪɹ ˈæftɚ kwˈiːn vɪktˈoːɹiəz dˈɛθ.
In 1887 Henry Stephens proposed converting the area to a park to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, but it was not opened until 1902, a year after Queen Victoria's death.