Anne Vale
CHAIR
Dr Anne Vale
P. 5664 3104
heriscapes@optusnet.com.au
VICECHAIR
Bonnie Gelman
M: 0423 504 520
lucasassets@iinet.net.au
TREASURER
Brian Monger
P: 9592 5929
brianfmonger@hotmail.com
SECRETARY
Val Stewart
P: 5964 7749
vhilton@tpg.com.au
NMC Rep:
Pamela Jellie
P: 9836 1881
MEMBERS
Anthony Menhennitt
P: 9744 2467
Kathy Wright
P: 9596 2041
Dr John Dwyer
Fran Faul - Working Bee Coordinator
P: 9853 1369
Warwick Forge
P: 9819 1335
Welcome to the Victorian Branch Web Page. The Victorian committee has been hard at work planning a variety of activities. As arrangements are finalised full details will be updated on the web page and in forthcoming newsletters. Many events relate to one of our very own luminaries, landscape designer William Guilfoyle. The centenary of his death provides a perfect opportunity to re visit his work and discuss and debate contemporary interpretations. We are fortunate to have academics who have an in depth understanding of the Guilfoyle history and legacy, we also have horticulturists and landscape practitioners with a working knowledge of the challenges and opportunities his surviving landscapes pose. How fortunate we are to have such a plentiful variety of Guilfoyle's work in Victoria. From his masterpiece at The Royal Botanic Garden Melbourne, to regional private gardens his work is readily accessible. The Guilfoyle theme will be explored in our winter lecture series, a discussion and walk and talk forum plus a regional tour. Other activities include Autumn and spring one day excursions, special guest lectures and travellers' Tales at Domain House. Our Working Bees create a marvellous opportunity to get to know fellow members, spend time in amazing 'gardens with history' and make a much needed contribution to the preservation of some of Victoria most historic gardens. In November the National Conference will be held in historic Ballarat, early booking is essential to avoid disappointment. Our year will close with our annual Christmas walk and Talk, always a most informative and pleasurable occasion. We look forward to seeing you at these planned activities and extend a special welcome to new members. Please make yourselves known to committee members (we wear name tags) so we can make your acquaintance. Anne Vale, Chair, Victorian Branch.
Two University of Melbourne Masters students are conducting a joint project with support from the Australian Garden History Society. Dr Anne Vale, lecturer at the Burnley Campus of the University of Melbourne, is supervising the students and is actively involved in the project. The long-term objective is to produce a comprehensive handbook for owners of Australian ‘Gardens with History’. Sally Randall and Megan Backhouse are developing a model for the management of privately owned heritage gardens in the State of Victoria. The premise of this research is that there is no single up to date publication available that covers the broad range of issues that garden owners and managers need to make informed decisions. In addition to in-depth research each student will gather anecdotal evidence through questionnaire, face to face interviews and case studies of selected properties. The purpose of the handbook is to assist owners to evaluate significance, collate records, assess condition and manage the conservation of their heritage garden. It will be made available in some form (electronic or hard copy) through the AGHS and other avenues. The contribution of the AGHS towards this initial student component will be acknowledged in reports submitted for examination and any future publication. We are very keen to meet with owners of a broad range of gardens. If you are willing to share your experiences of owning ‘a garden with history please contact Anne in the first instance on Mob: 0419893523 or 56643104 or email: avale@unimelb.edu.au
The City Of Melbourne has guardianship over some of Victoria’s significant cultural landscapes, historic gardens and plants. Fitzroy Gardens, The Shrine Reserve, J.J. Holland Park and Kensington Reserves are examples of major Parks and Gardens administered by the City Of Melbourne in addition to boulevards and avenues, such as Royal Parade and St Kilda Road. With many of these thoroughfares and vistas having been developed and planted out in culturally and dynamically different times, this urban tree population is facing many pressures. The City of Melbourne’s draft Urban Forest Strategy includes many aspects which are of interest to our members and the wider community. The strategy “seeks to protect against future vulnerability by providing a robust strategic framework for the evolution and longevity of Melbourne's urban forest”. Current and critical problems include ageing, climate change and increasing population density. Approximately 43 per cent of the City Of Melbourne’s tree base is from the Myrtaceae family. “many Australian native trees that function well as urban trees in Melbourne belong to this family, which includes Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Callistemon, Angophora and Melaleuca. For example, of the 13,000 trees in Royal Park, 9,800 are from the Myrtaceae family. Myrtle Rust, has been found in a number of Victorian nurseries. It is a serious fungal disease affecting plants of the Myrtaceae family. This creates a high level of vulnerability in terms of pest and diseases such as Myrtle Rust.” We hope that our members will involve themselves with information sessions and consultations regarding The City Of Melbourne’s vision for our public trees and vistas. Of special interest may be the City Of Melbourne’s Exceptional Tree Register which “offers, for the first time, the opportunity to recognise, celebrate and protect the exceptional trees that exist on private land in our city.” Information on the Urban Forest Strategy and the tree register is available via www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/urbanforest Information on Myrtle Rust is available from http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/forestry/pests-diseases-weeds/diseases/myrtle-rust
Submitted by Bonnie Gelman, Vice Chair, AGHS, Vic Branch.
AGHS and similar interest group activities
from 6-17 February the State Library of Victoria will be run a Rare Books Summer School.
There are four courses available, including one being run by Richard Aitken on botanical books:
Sasha Griffin: Artists' books, zines and other collaborative ventures (6-10 Feb.)
Richard Aitken: Botanical riches: the art of the book (13-17 Feb.)
Wallace Kirsop: Ephemera: a collector's key to the history of books (13-17 Feb.)
Caren Florence: The poetics of printing on the iron hand-press (13-17 Feb. at the Ancora Press studio, Monash University Caulfield). Details of this event can be found in the link - flyer. Applications formally closed in December but places may still be available.
The first comprehensive survey of work by the Russian-born Swiss artist Nicholas Chevalier produced during his fourteen years in Australia from 1855 to 1869. The exhibition will assemble some of Chevalier's most significant paintings along with sketches, studies and lithographs.
Geelong Gallery Little Malop Street Geelong VIC 3220, 03 5229 3645. Open daily 10am - 5pm A Gippsland Art Gallery travelling exhibition
Official Opening on Saturday February 11, at 2pm and Devonshire Tea at the Murtoa Neighbourhood House.
The Art Exhibition will be held on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of February , at the Mechanics Hall Murtoa from 1- 5pm. 2012 is the 150th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone by Samuel Wilson of the Longrenong Homestead. The Longrenong and Ashens runs were taken up by Dugald McPherson and William Taylor in 1844. My grandmother Eloise Gregory bought the homestead from James Delahunty in 1921 and it remained in the family until 2002. LONGRENONG HOMESTEAD is a gracious gothic villa tucked away in amongst the gum trees on the bank of the Yarriambiack Creek. It is built of salmon bricks which were locally made, a grey slate roof with ten chimney pots reaching to the sky. I grew up at the Homestead and I wanted to mark the occasion of its 150th anniversary with a book. I have written about the people who lived there and the Township of Longrenong, the gold escort route, water and schooling and much more. I hope this book will keep some of the heritage of the area alive for generation to come. Books will cost $35 and $11 postage. Susan Devlin PO Box 581 HORSHAM VIC 3402 Ph 03 5384 7358
On Wednesday February 15, Victorian AGHS members and keen travellers Sue Keon-Cohen and Di Renou will share their recent adventures with an illustrated talk on the plants and landscape of Madagascar. 10.00 am Domain House, Dallas Brooks Drive, South Yarra. Cost : $5 includes morning tea/coffee.
Enquiries: pdjellie@hotmail.com or ph. 9836 1881.
Please join us for what will be a most interesting and social occasion. Meet at the front door of the main building at 6pm sharp. This site is home to an historic landscape of mature exotic trees, more recent sympathetic plantings, a ha ha, magnificent buildings dating from 1864 and hundreds of metres of decorative brick fencing. As special arrangements have been made, AGHS members should take advantage of this rare opportunity to visit a site surrounding a grand public building constructed in grand Second Empire style, which is now in the private domain. We are privileged to be led by conservation landscape architect, Nigel Lewis. Nigel consulted on the protection of the site in the late 1980's before the current development commenced. We will also be joined by Barbara Burton, a resident with detailed knowledge of Willsmere. Bring a picnic tea to have at Wills St. Picnic area and lookout (Melways Ref 45A4). This is an excellent spot for watching the sun set, the city lights come on and the flying foxes take off. Parking at the western end of Wills Street in the car park or neighbouring streets. Access to Willsmere is along a path through the cyclone fence - the gate will be unlocked. Non-picnickers can park in the grounds, entering from Wiltshire Blvd. off Yarra Boulevard (Melway Ref 45A2). Public transport is bus no 200 or 205 from Lonsdale St., City via Kew Junction and Princess St. Alight at Wills St. and walk down Wills St. - about 700 metres. Princess St.'s bus no 200 or 205 from City via Kew Junction and walk down Wills St. - about 700 metres. The site is private and must be entered through the front door of the main building, which is kept locked. Late comers will have to ring Malcolm Faul's mobile number on 0400 016 994, so that entry can be organised. But please be punctual. Enquiries Fran Faul HM:9853 1369, E:malfaul@alphalink.com.au
On Saturday March 17 there will be a working bee for AGHS members and friends at Wombat Park, Daylesford. Please bring secateurs and other appropriate tools suitable for a large country garden. Contact Fran Faul for details of meeting place/travel options and to indicate your interest. Fran Faul, Working Bee co-ordinator , AGHS Victorian Branch. HM:9853 1369, E:malfaul@alphalink.com.au
On Saturday 14th April, join us on a fascinating tour of three historic peninsular properties – The Briars, Beleura and McRae Homestead. Imagine Georgiana McRae setting off by horse from Melbourne to visit her pastoral run – taking two days – and settling there in 1844 and creating one of Victoria’s oldest homesteads. A reluctant traveller, since she preferred the refinements of the best that Melbourne could offer; but settle she did in this slab hut. She was a fine artist, musician and diarist and her beautiful sketches are housed in the gallery beside the original homestead which contains the rare collection of 19th century family heirlooms and artworks. The property is enhanced by the Twycroft Collection of historic photographs – Visions of Port Phillip. For background reading, ‘Georgiana’, by Brenda Niall is strongly recommended. We will lunch at Beleura at Mornington and be introduced to this historic property by Director Anthony Knight. It was built in 1863 and owned by members of the Tallis family – theatrical entrepreneurs. John Tallis was an aesthete and musician and in ‘enhancing the pleasure garden, he introduced a theatrical flair to Beleura, heightened by his passion for all things ITALIAN and based on long periods spent in Europe. Beleura is now being rejuvenated as a museum and gallery by the Tallis Foundation’. – Richard Aitken. We are indebted to Anthony Knight and the Foundation for providing special access. We shall also visit The Briars Mt Martha with its historic homestead perfumed garden, rosaraie, Eco-Centre, indigenous plant centre, heritage fruits and vegetables and cultural landscapes. See Mornington Peninsula flyer in January Journal for booking details. Enquires Warwick Forge. ph: 9819 1335 mob: 043 818 2801 (after hours)
On Saturday April 21 there will be a working bee for AGHS members and friends at Mooleric, Birregurra. Please bring secateurs and other appropriate tools suitable for a large country garden. Contact Fran Faul for details of meeting place/travel options and to indicate your interest. Fran Faul, Working Bee co-ordinator , AGHS Victorian Branch. HM:9853 1369, E:malfaul@alphalink.com.au
A very successful working bee was held at Turkeith, enjoyed by 16 adults (including the owners) and 2 children (although the younger child at 22 months was not much help). While working bees tend to have a long term focus, this one was slightly different – due to the impending wedding of a family member, the emphasis was on how the garden will look on New Year’s Eve!! Hence, much of the work consisted of tweaking the garden, including the deadheading of a large clump of Echiums, lightly pruning an equally large clump of Wormwood, clearing an access path for the caterers and cutting out Plumbago from a large stand of Strelitzia. The major achievement of the day was clearing an almost impenetrable thicket of Tecoma to uncover a severely overgrown path. With Shirley Goldsworthy and Ivan Dundas slashing at one end and David Jellie approaching from the other, they eventually met in triumph in the centre. This completed the restoration of the Guilfoyle promenade along the eastern boundary. And so the last working bee under the present owners has a link to the first, 25 years ago – uncovering paths, hidden in a jungle. The gardens and the approach driveway were already looking impressive when we arrived, but now they are guaranteed to be in top shape for the all-important wedding. Submitted by Malcolm Faul
La Trobe's Cottage was the home of Charles Joseph La Trobe, Victoria's first governor, and his wife Sophie and their children from 1839 to 1854. Originally erected on his Jolimont estate, the single storey dwelling is constructed of panellised timber, replicating the original prefabricated structure brought by him from London. The locally built dining room (1839), the first of many additions made during La Trobe's tenure, is believed to be the oldest surviving Melbourne building. The ‘Friends of La Trobe’s Cottage’ was formed in 2009 under the auspices of the C J La Trobe Society to support the National Trust in its efforts to maintain the Cottage, and, through fund-raising, improve the visitor experience at the Cottage through regular public opening times, enhanced interpretation, and improved interior and exterior appearance. Volunteers are involved in holding working bees in the garden and on the cottage building. If you would like to join us contact
E: foltc@latrobesociety.org.au Location: Cnr Birdwood Avenue & Dallas Brooks Drive, Melbourne.
Working bees continue at Bishopscourt. The rain we have had over the past 6 months has had a transforming affect on the garden after the years of drought the garden has endured. Growth has been phenomenal and for the first time we have needed to hard prune shrubs. Lush and abundant weed growth means lots of weeding is needed. Important we keep garden tidy at all times as Bishopscourt used for lots of church functions and was included in this year's Melbourne Open House - 30/31 July.
New helpers welcomed at working bees held third Wednesday of each month any time you can spare between 8.30 am and 4 pm, bring your lunch and secateurs. Enquiries: Helen Page 0418 546 979 or helenpage@bigpond.com.
Volunteers meet on the first Wednesday of the month, from 10am onwards at the Convent, 1 St Heliers St, Abbotsford. All levels of gardening ability and fitness are catered for. Contact Marg Allan, Head Gardener Abbotsford Convent on margallan@iinet.net.au or 0427 767 766.
2011 was a big year for Buda Historic Home & Garden in Caastlemain. The hedge had been in decline for some years despite arboreal attention, and over the winter months, the strong winds and heavy rains saturated the hedge and caused the collapse of major sections of the entire hedge. Heritage Victoria have endorsed the need to remove the hedge and replace it. The Australian Garden History Society, Victorian Branch, has provided assistance with the replanting.Click on the link to read more about Buda.
The Victorian Branch/State Library of Victoria joint photographic project, established as a memorial to Suzanne Hunt, is under way. Dalvui has been photographed in two seasons. The photographs will be added to the archive of images of significant historic gardens held in the SLV Picture Collection.
The AGHS has supported the production of this book, in which the articles Nina wrote for The Age between 1982 and 1997 under the pseudonym ‘Alison Dalrymple’ are republished. Most of the articles were written while Nina was Principal of Melbourne Church of England Girls Grammar School, the time in her life when she began to appreciate the beauties and joys of plants and gardens world-wide. Her visits to the Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens, just across the road from the school, and her visits to national and international gardens, were an outlet from her busy professional life, and became the basis from which her later editorship of Australian Garden History took inspiration. See attached flyer.
Copies available from Melbourne Girls Grammar School, 86 Anderson St, South Yarra, 3141, fax 9866 1119.
Profits go to Melbourne Girls Grammar School, to set up a ‘Nina Crone Prize for Excellence in History’.
A warm welcome to new members. When you attend functions do be sure to let the organisers know you are a new member. Remember to check the website regularly for updates concerning events for 2012. We have a good selection of activities, some of which may be shared with the Friends of the Royal Melbourne Botanic Garden.
The Victorian Branch Committee meets at 6pm, fourth week of the month, at University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus. Visitors are welcome to attend to see what we do and to make suggestions for activities and projects. If you are interested in contributing expertise as an associate on occasion this would also be very welcome.
Some suggestions for assistance include: packing the journal, providing flowers on our lecture nights, new member host on our lecture nights, publicity, reports on Working Bees or interesting heritage garden visits, delivery of membership brochures to open gardens, etc.
If you wish to discuss opportunities to get involved please call Anne H: 56643104, M: 0419893523, E: heriscapes@optusnet.com.au.
