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In the early 1990s there was a concerted community-led push to improve the look of Littleton Gardens.
Bega resident Arthur McDonald was one of the founders of what was known as the Bega Beautiful committee.
Along with Margaret Sirl, Ralph Hetherington and chairman John Matthews - a former employee of the BDN - the committee led community working bees in planting trees, shrubs and flowers around Littleton Gardens, Kiss's Lagoon and Bega Park.
Arthur's wife Barbara McDonald said all the work done was by volunteers, with some assistance from various grants.
"There was a good sense of community pride," she said, adding that the committee worked hand in hand with other community organisations including Apex, Rotary and the Bega Garden Club.
Bega District News articles of the day included details of an extensive planting of trees and shrubs in "the new civic carpark in Zingel Place".
"These will provide colour and contrast in all seasons, shade in the summer and allow sunshine in the winter," Mr Matthews was quoted as saying.
"They range from flowering cherries along Zingel Place, flowering crabapples along Gipps St, to golden ashes in the islands, all interspersed with sasanqua camellias."
Ms McDonald said she and her husband have done a bit of travelling since retiring and "every town has beds of flowers".
"We had the BP servo for 20 years and it was nice to look across the road to the gardens and trees," she said.
"I can understand progress and making things more modern - but I miss the flowers."
- Photos and newspaper clippings courtesy of Arthur and Barbara McDonald
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