High on a hill
From every vantage point on Wombat Hill, you can see the Wombat State Forest encroaching upon Daylesford or Wombat, as the town was first known. To early settlers, the dark, dense stands of trees surrounding the town must have been quite a formidable spectre.
Despite Wombat relinquishing its name, Wombat Hill retained its dinky-di monica. On visiting the botanic gardens, though, you could be forgiven for thinking that a European or an American hill had been transplanted, complete with trees, to the middle of the Aussie countryside.
In 1853 Ferdinand Jakob Heinrich von Mueller was appointed Government Botanist in the Colony of Victoria. From 1857-73, the Baron was the Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, during that time importing many new plants to Australia and supplying high quality specimens to the regional botanic gardens throughout Victoria, including the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens. In 1871 Ferdinand von Mueller was made a Baron by the King of Wurtemberg and was also knighted by Queen Victoria.
Originally planted in 1861, the eleven-hectare botanic gardens on Wombat Hill are home to magnificent cedars, conifers, oaks, a monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria), elms and birches. Two of the oak trees were planted in 1863, to commemorate Prince Edward’s wedding to Princess Alexandra. Thus the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens were officially named.
Some of the trees you’ll encounter are listed on the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees, including the Big Cone Pine, or Pinus Coulteri, from South-West California. It’s so named because it’s reputed to have pine cones as big as footballs. The venerable tree in the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens is believed to be the oldest specimen in Victoria. Sadly, we failed to locate it on our visit yesterday.
On a hot day, the gardens are a beautiful oasis of greenery. Be prepared, though, for the distressing sight of some of the gardens’ oldest trees struggling to survive after prolonged drought.
Between March and May every year, the Alf Headland Conservatory is filled with a display of magnificent Begonias, the colours of which are so stunningly vivid, the flowers look artificial.
Alf Headland was a dedicated worker at the gardens in the 1950s and 1960s. Before Alf’s time, Bill Greville successfully grew begonias in the gardens in the 1930s but after Bill’s retirement, the tubers went into storage. Alf discovered a couple of begonia tubers knocking around in a woodshed, nurtured them to flowering magnificence, and was hooked. Even into retirement, his passion for begonias never dwindled.
On the slope below, the grounds of the Convent Gallery, formerly the Holy Cross Convent, adjoin the gardens, the attractive domed roof on the Convent’s tower visible through the trees.
On Tuesday, November 22, 1938, The Daylesford Advocate reported: “His Excellency Lord Huntingfield, Governor of Victoria, and Lady Huntingfield, were given an enthusiastic welcome at the weekend, on the occasion of their first visit to the district…. on Saturday His Excellency opened officially the Look-out Tower on Wombat Hill…” An engraved dedication stone informs visitors that the tower is dedicated to the pioneers of Daylesford and district.
I once heard a Dad’s Army type story about the Pioneer Look-out Tower: During the Second World War, members of the Country Women’s Association, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides and other community groups would take turns, around the clock, to watch for enemy aircraft from the observation platform at the tower’s summit. One can’t help wondering what these staunch defenders of democracy intended to do, had they spotted an enemy plane.
Today the tower has a much more quotidian purpose, affording beautiful views of the gardens, the town and the district.
January 27th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Thank you for your interesting perspective on our beautiful botanic gardens. Recently I took on the role of Secretary to the Friends of the gardens because of my great affection for the place.
If you have visited the gardens in recent weeks you may have noticed a change in the appearance and in the quality of the light, particularly on the northeast and eastern sides. Arborists employed by Hepburn Council have been performing much needed remedial works to some of the very old and significant trees. It is a great improvement.
The botanic gardens contain an outstanding collection of rare and notable specimens, many of which are from similar climate zones around the world, such as northern Europe, northwest USA and the Himalayas. Most landscape architects and garden historians believe that Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens contains one of the best, if not THE best collections of cool climate trees, including rare conifers, in Australia. This is the result of the response of 19th century garden designers to the unique local environment – high altitude, cool climate, rich volcanic soil, underground water sources.
Not only are the botanic gardens of great aesthetic value, they are also of enormous scientific, specifically botanical, significance. The Friends have recently received advice that Heritage Victoria is currently considering the inclusion of the gardens on the Victorian Heritage Register. If there are no objections or problems, it is likely that they will be registered by late March 2009. This is a welcome development – not only do the gardens get the official recognition that they deserve, but it also provides the highest level of protection from inappropriate developments within and around the site.
The Friends has produced a simple brochure and guide to the gardens, which can be obtained from the Daylesford Visitor Information Centre in Vincent Street.