OPEN GARDENS BUNINYONG 2025 proudly presents five house gardens offering interesting variety, from the mid-19th century to others of a contemporary inclination………always respecting and reflecting the natural landscape and local conditions.
In principle, Ballantrae’s historic garden remains intact. New owners Antony and Dahlia have unveiled the different spaces with the removal of some small trees which were overshadowed by the mature trees, several of which are heritage listed.
The circular driveway has been reintroduced and a new central gravel garden, with its water feature, adds a French influence. A dead stump now supports a sculpture created out of steel cartwheel rings discovered on the property.
Taking their inspiration from a local landscape designer, a fire pit and al fresco area were added, and a local arborist gave existing trees attention, giving them a new lease of life. With the recent removal of a farm fence, the garden now flows from the house to what the owner’s refer to as ‘the park’.
Ballantrae, 7208 Midland Highway
A family garden. Now nurturing another generation of children, this beloved family garden on the slopes of Mount Buninyong was established in 1954 by Beth and Frank Ritchie and is now maintained by their son Alastair and his wife Jacinda. Conceived of as a place for children to play and explore, the garden comprises a series of interlinked semi-wild spaces that have seen easter egg hunts and games of hide and seek over many years.
The garden’s major trees, a mixture of elms, oak, ash as well as a flowering gum, date from the 1950s. It attracts a great variety of birds as well as its fair share of rabbits! More recently, an old man kangaroo has taken up residence.
17 Mount Buninyong Road
Ron and Debra bought the property in 2013 and rented it out for 3 years whilst they travelled. There was minimal garden and lots of green, not grass but weeds, to mow. On their travels they collected ideas and in December 2016 they returned and began gardening. Not interested in mowing a lawn or two large nature strips, (they are on a corner), they decided to garden everything. This led to many discussions with Council but finally they put their ideas into practice. The main purpose of the garden was to provide a habitat for birds, bugs and bees and create a garden for all to enjoy. Their approach to gardening is organic, experimental and for sharing. Ron and Debra will be available on Sunday 26th October to talk with visitors on the process they went through with Council in establishing the garden.
901 Warrenheip Street, Buninyong
Janine bought the property after moving from an acreage outside of Buninyong, her previous property had a view of native bushland, and she looked for this in her new purchase. Work began on the garden, wanting to utilise the borrowed landscape of De Soza park, the garden was extensively altered to create several stone walled terraces and a sloping path to a gate opening onto the park. Work on the plantings began approximately six years ago, and continues. To remove visual boundaries and facilitate the garden-becoming an extension of the natural environment, the choice of plants was restricted to natives some indigenous and other favourites from elsewhere in Australia. The soil is a heavy clay mixed with rubble from the former Buninyong Tannery on the site. As is the nature of native plants, some have proven not be suited to the soil or climate and others short-lived, so planting is a continual process of research, planting and replanting. The owner's personal philosophy of gardening is about the anticipation of growth, beauty and harvest.
Villa Elle, 606 Learmonth Street, Buninyong
Jock and Fiona’s garden contains nooks, crannies and niches of repose over 3 levels of a sloping block. It features hedges, established trees, woody perennials and potted specimens intersected by narrow paths and stairs – a place of exploration and solitude in the heart of Buninyong.
Old Bank, 319 Learmonth Street, Buninyong
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