Where is Melbourne's Best Rose Garden?

by Nadine Cresswell-Myatt (subscribe)

Generally roses bloom in early January, March, November and around Anzac Day in April.

You don't have to be a keen gardener to enjoy them. Everyone loves their perfume, their beauty and their luscious colours. Few things are more beautiful in life than looking out over a sea of blooming roses.

But where is Melbourne's best rose garden? Here are a few suggestions of ones you might want to go and enjoy while they are bloom.

Flemington



While we associate roses with Flemington race track around Melbourne Cup time, the Club has some some of Melbourne's most famous rose gardens the rest of the year as well. There are over 11,000 roses at Flemington with varieties such as 'Graham Thomas', 'Manou Meillard' and Rosa'Crépuscule'. Of course it helps that Flemington has great composting materials such as straw and manure.



Flemington Racecourse and Victoria Racing Club Flemington Heritage Centre offers guided walking tours of these beautiful gardens. A minimum booking of five people is required for this tour. For further information, pricing and availability, phone the Flemington Heritage Centre on 8378 0660.



State Rose Gardens (close to Werribee Park)



Often we think we have seen this area of Melbourne because we have visited the stately mansion or visited the famous zoo. However if you have not seen the State Rose Garden when it is in bloom it is time to go back there. The Victorian State Rose Garden was planted in 1986 and there are over 5000 roses. The gardens, which are maintained mainly be volunteers, have even been recognised by the World Rose Society. Well worth the trip out there just to smell the roses!



Entrance is free. The best times are November and again in March but there are blooms from early October until late March. The Victoria State Rose Garden is located adjacent to The Mansion at Werribee Park in the Werribee Park Tourism Precinct.



The Alister Clark Memorial Rose Garden



Less well known is the the Alister Clark Memorial Rose Garden in Bulla which is out near Sunbury. Alister Clark (1864–1949) was an influential rose breeder. He aimed and succeeded in growing the first rose that flowered all year round which was called the "Lorraine Lee". These lovely rose gardens are open every day of the year for visitors to stroll around and admire the 68 varieties of roses on display. All the roses are clearly identified and described which is a boon for keen gardeners. You can pick up a free brochure at the gate which has a catalogue of the roses and a map of the garden.



Opening Hours:From October to March the roses are in full bloom and an open day is held on the Saturday after Melbourne Cup Day each year. Entry is free.96 Bulla Road,  Bulla.

Mornington Botanical Rose Park

Don Gordon started the Mornington Botanical Rose Park about 11 years ago on 1.6ha and there are now 250 varieties in bloom. Again the garden is supported by volunteers, with over 50 of them working there throughout the year. Less developed than some of the other rose gardens it is still worth a visit.


Free to visit, the Mornington Botanical Rose Park is at the corner of Mornington-Tyabb and Dunns roads.

So these are some suggestions for gardens that you might not have known about and of course there is always the beautiful rose gardens in the Royal Botanical Gardens as well. Perhaps you also have some other suggestions of rose gardens well worth driving out to for a visit?

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