For many years, Veale Gardens had a reputation as a
gay beat. There was much debate over the years about whether to police the area more closely in response to public complaints about loitering and lewd behaviour, or to provide a safer and more amenable meeting place for gay men. In the absence of any agreement, in late 2006 the public toilets were bulldozed and new toilets built on the South Terrace frontage. The entrance off Sir Lewis Cohen Avenue was closed and the street returned to park land to reduce late night parking. In more recent times Veale Gardens and adjacent parkland again became controversial because of its popularity with visiting Aboriginal people, looking for a cheap, safe, and convenient place to camp. ==References==