Victoria Branch: From Dandenong to the Dandenongs

Benga 

Join us for a day excursion visiting gardens in the Heritage Hill Precinct, Dandenong, and Culraven, Olinda.

Departure: 9.00am sharp Russell St Extension Bus Loop (behind Ian Potter Gallery)
Return: approx. 5,00pm depending on traffic

Cost: $120 members $140 non-members
Book: at Trybooking.
Includes: notes, morning tea, boxed lunch, and afternoon tea
BYO: water bottle, suitable clothing.

Note: Travelling in a minibus due to Olinda Road restrictions.
Enquiries: Lynda Entwisle 0466 925 370 or Wendy Dwyer 0408 340 967
No Refunds after 27 March

Heritage Hill, Dandenong
Two Edna Walling – inspired Gardens and a 19th Century Garden of Big Trees

Hidden away in the bustling heart of Dandenong is the very charming Heritage Hill Precinct. It comprises the 1869 house, ‘Laurel Lodge’, and the 1936 house ‘Benga’ near the St James Anglican Church (1864). The histories of the two houses, now owned and maintained by the City of Greater Dandenong, give an insight to earlier life in Dandenong. The beautiful garden at Benga has design elements inspired by Edna Walling and Laurel Lodge has magnificent specimen trees planted in the 19th century (the garden itself mostly dates from the 1920s).

City of Greater Dandenong staff will host guided tours of the houses, the gardens and the exhibition ‘Trees – a Canopy Extraordinaire’, on show at Benga. The exhibition showcases the history the timber industry and tree planting enterprises in the Dandenong area. (The garden only of St James Anglican Church will be visited, but not its interior, as it is under separate ownership.)

Well-known AGHS member, Pamela Jellie, completed a conservation study of Laurel Lodge Garden in 1998 and has agreed to offer her insights during the visit.

Morning tea on arrival. Tour of both houses and garden with garden staff. Tour of Trees Exhibition with time to watch the short film. Picnic lunch

Culraven, Olinda

This gorgeous home (art deco-arts and crafts, but neither) in Olinda was built in the 1920s. The current owners’ grandparents bought the 2.4 hectare property in 1940. We are delighted to be able to visit this little-known Dandenong’s property which was partially set out by Edna Walling and demonstrates many features attributed to her influence. Her stonemason colleagues, Ellis Stones and Eric Hammond set out the stone features and constructed a stone wall and the gate posts, respectively. Special features we will enjoy in our autumn visit include spectacular foliage, sweet chestnuts to gather, berries and ripe fruits on the trees and belladonnas among the huge variety of other plants that are only sparsely flowering in April.
As the property has winding, mossy paths that are slippery in the wet, visitors are advised to take care and wear sensible shoes.

After our tour of the garden, we will be able to enjoy afternoon tea with the owners before heading back to Melbourne.