Araucaria cunninghamii
Charles Fraser, Superintendent 1821–31, was the first botanist appointed to develop the gardens along scientific lines. Fraser made many inland excursions particularly with John Oxley and brought back plants and specimens. Fraser's plantings between 1827–8 from his Brisbane district and northern NSW travels survive, and include hoop pines ("Araucaria cunninghamii"), weeping lilly pillies ("Waterhousia floribunda"), a hoop (or Moreton Bay) pine ("Araucaria cunninghamii"), 2 swamp oaks ("Casuarina cunninghamiana") on the eastern side of the palm grove. On his death in 1831 he was succeeded by Richard Cunningham. His brother, the explorer Allan Cunningham was also a director. A native red cedar Fraser collected in 1822 formerly thought to have been from the Parramatta region has been genetically tested and found to have been collected in the Dorrigo region. This tree grows still near the Palm House (beside Farm Cove Creek in Bed 9).