Open Gardens Victoria will open the remarkable 'Mawallok' garden at Stockyard Hill near Beaufort on April 27-28 for an event celebrating food, wine, plants and art.
Proceeds will be donated to Beaufort and Skipton Health Services and the local CFA.
The scale of the 2.5-hectare garden and lake at Mawallok is breathtaking. With golden fields of Western District farming land all around, Mawallok stands out as an oasis waiting to be explored.
Designed by William Guilfoyle in 1909, the garden surrounds an arts and crafts style homestead built in the same year.
The current owners have worked hard to preserve and restore the garden, so that more than 100 years on, it remains true to Guilfoyle's original design with the sweeping lawns, curved shrubberies, serpentine paths and impressive vistas that were so typical of his work.
From the house, the flowing lines of the garden lead beyond a Ha-Ha wall to unimpeded views across the beautiful lake designed by Sir John Monash in the 1920s, and the Pyrenees Ranges beyond.
The original six-hole golf course from 1924 still remains and was recently renovated.
Autumn is a special time to visit the garden and enjoy the many mature trees as they start to colour.
Historically significant trees include Algerian and Gallipoli Oaks and a stunning Copper Beech.
The garden is protected by windbreaks of Monterey and Aleppo Pines, Sugar Gums, Osage Orange, privet hedges and stone walls.
Since the current owners' family purchased the property in 1980, a large stone and timber pergola has been built and adorned with an ornamental grapevine that turns ruby red in autumn.
A mixed border was created below the front terrace to provide colour and interest during the warmer months and a substantial vegetable garden has also been incorporated into the old orchard.
A new dry garden planting is also becoming established.
In 1982, landscape architect John Patrick extensively surveyed the garden and conducted a plant identification program, which helped inform the restoration of the garden.
John designed a new area beyond Guilfoyle's original garden boundary, creating an avenue of pleached tilias underplanted with liriope and massed bulbs, herbaceous plants and shrubs.
Visitors are invited to make a day of their visit to Mawallok - enjoy a picnic on the extensive, shaded lawns and enjoy the food, wine, and produce on offer, together with cooking demonstrations (Sunday), an art exhibition, plants sales and more.
The weekend also includes the following:
- Refreshments including coffee, cakes and lunches (for purchase).
- Tastings and sales of wines from Mount Langi Ghiran and olive oil from Red Rock Olives.
- Plant stall and local produce (jams, pickles, preserves).
- Mawallok@rt - an exhibition of nature inspired paintings, ceramics and sculpture in the Coach House.
- Cooking demonstrations with wellness chef Samantha Gowing (Sunday only at 11am and 1pm).
- Sculpture and garden ornaments from 'Wired For Living'.
Address: Mawallok Open Garden, 3802 Geelong Road, Stockyard Hill (near Beaufort)
Date/time: Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, from 10am-4pm. Entry is $15 (children under 18 free).
For more information visit www.opengardensvictoria.org.au