Camperdown Botanical Gardens

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The are accessed through the Lakes and Craters Holiday Park, so caution is needed in driving through the park.


Unlike most botanical gardens, the Camperdown one is about four kms out of the city centre, but worth the drive.


The area was reserved as a park in 1879 and the gardens were designed by William Guilfoyle in1888-89.


As far as botanical gardens go, this one is not large, but there is a lot growing in it.


The whole garden is impeccably maintained with the wide flat gravel paths meandering throughout. Any slopes are only slight and wheelchairs would have no problem, with the occupants being able to see all that is there.


Numerous large trees are spread throughout the area, with many probably being some of the original plantings.


Many smaller trees abound and being closely planted offer large areas of shade.


Disappointingly, few of the dominant and interesting trees are named, but seeing them is just reward for not knowing what they are.


One of the large trees named is the Cedrus Deodara, or Himalayan Cedar, a magnificent looking tree.


Large beds of shrubs, plants and flowers offer an attractive scenario between the perimeter path and the garden's boundary.




Throughout the gardens are many island beds planted with a large variety of flowering plants, not native, but many exotic looking blooms.








In a secluded area of the gardens is a picnic shelter with undercover BBQs, all under the shade of the surrounding foliage.


For 125 years, an unusual feature in the gardens was a sculpture of Scottish poet Robert Burns. Gifted to the people of Camperdown by William Taylor after he immigrated to Australia and settled in the Camperdown area in1876. In 2009, the sculpture was vandalised, removed, restored and now displayed in the Corangamite Shire Civic Centre in Camperdown.


The gardens are set in an elevated area and on their western side, they overlook two volcanic lakes, Lake Bullen Merri and Lake Gnotuk. Two extra reasons for visiting the gardens.


Botanical gardens are usually a place of beauty and peace and the are no exception.

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