Open Gardens Victoria – ‘Melrose’

Melrose has featured on Gardening Australia and Better Homes & Gardens as well as in The Age, The Weekend Australian Magazine, Green Magazine and books by lifestyle photographer and writer Simon Griffiths.

Melrose has been described as “an enchanting space that blurs the line between the productive and purely ornamental” (Megan Backhouse, The Age), a “gardeners’ garden” (Jason Hodges, Better Homes & Gardens), “a fantastically productive garden that is literally overflowing with life” (Simon Griffiths, Garden Love) and as having a “wonderful choice of plants” (Jane Edmondson, Gardening Australia).

It has been observed that it is hard to say what kind of garden Melrose is – it cannot readily be categorised. There is a strong Mediterranean theme, dry climate plantings, elements of cottage gardens, an extensive use of productive plants in an ornamental context and a mix of formality and informality. The aim was to create beauty and abundance.

Visitor descriptions include “wild chic” “the most magical garden ever” “a place to ignite the creative in us all” “divine eclectic planting, winding paths, a new discovery around every corner’ “a great lesson in overcoming harsh conditions with a Mediterranean palette of plants” “beyond magical”.

Melrose has been open to the public on several occasions over a number of years including through Rotary Garden Designfest (featuring gardens designed by professional designers) and Open Gardens Victoria. The owners expect this to be the last public opening. A theme explored this year in the garden notes is the evolving nature of the garden.

NOTE: toilets are located one block away at The Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.

Parking is on main street (one block to North), or at Botanic Gardens (one block to the West of the garden).