MACEDON’S heritage-listed Bolobek Garden will open to the public for the first time in 18 months on April 24 and 25.
The garden sits at the base of Mount Macedon on private property – a working sheep and cattle farm – and, although maintained year-round, typically only opens to the public for a few days each year in spring.
After remaining closed since October 2019, the garden will now open in autumn for the first time in more than five years.
The garden is managed by Open Gardens Victoria, a not-for-profit that opens private gardens to the public, which hasn’t hosted openings for 12 months.
“This is the first autumn opening that it’s had for many years and the seasonal colour should be lovely,” Open Gardens Victoria chair Liz Fazio said.
“The light coming through the leaves at this time of year is really beautiful, and it just so lovely to be able to open gardens again.”
Across the Anzac Day weekend, visitors will be able to walk through the perennial garden’s many ‘rooms’ as Ms Fazio describes it, with lunch and drinks available for purchase to be enjoyed on the expansive lawns.
“[There are] rows of poplars, a lilac walk, beautiful thigs at the different times of years, so the poplars turn bright yellow and then there a carpet of yellow leaves after they’ve fallen,” she said.
“The whole garden is situated on a working farm, you approach it up a really long driveaway so it’s a really lovely setting.”
Bolobek was established over a century ago by Oswald Syme, son of the founder of The Age newspaper.
Current owners Brigid and Hugh Robertson bought the property in 2006 during drought and have continued the renovation of the garden.
Visitors will find themselves dwarfed by the large, mature trees such as lindens and oaks and the towering avenue of poplar trees.
Other parts of the garden feature fruit trees, lilac hedges, herbaceous borders, prize-winning dahlias and a newly reinstated creek and fernery, all tied together by sweeping lawns.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and free for under 18s. Food, wine, books and plants available to purchase.
Bolobek Garden is located at 370 Mount Macedon Road, Macedon and will be open from 10am to 4.30pm on Saturday April 24 and 25.
Tickets must be purchased in advance online. Attendance will be welcomed with COVID-19 protocols observed.
For more information about open gardens and events, visit www.opengardensvictoria.org.au.
