The GardenThis garden was designed and planted by the late Jill (Nancy) Rossiter which she commenced in 1971. It was part of her cousins, the late Nasons' family property. This was bequeathed to the Anglican Church. Jill later purchased a further acre from the Anglican church to connect to the Warby Range State Park also originally part of the Nason family property.
The steep block, formerly a gravel pit, and the climate she recognised, was suited to some Western Australia species often troublesome to grow in eastern states. Many of these she propagated from seed collected on a 'round Australia' trip. The design was for a dryland garden to blend into the background — the bushland hills behind the Kurringai Cottage property. The garden commenced as a display of plants grown from her seed collection so she usually had enough to plant in clumps, the natural way for plants to grow.
She also recognised the potential of designing with the foliage and form of our unique Australian flora and here her success is still evident, but so natural that the design effort could easily be missed.
Some of Jill's thoughts in making the garden were recorded in Ideas from Private Gardens by Natalie McMaster and Jane Edmanson 1986. Her garden was also part of Victoria's Open Garden Scheme in the early 90s. A current list of garden plants has been recorded. Kurringai Cottage Plant List |
Contact Ray Purches
Or write to: 99 Bald Hill Road Wangaratta Vic 3678 |
