This document provides information about an upcoming garden festival in Walcha, New South Wales, including directions to six private gardens that will be open for visitors to tour. It details entry fees, hours of operation, refreshments available, and contact information for the organizers. Maps and descriptions of each garden are included to help visitors plan their route to explore the beautiful cool climate gardens.

1. Please follow the map below. Gardens will be sign-posted
with blue and yellow flags and numbered.
Festival
Directions
Information
For further information, please email Diana Lisle at
walchagardenclub@gmail.com
(prefered method of contact is email)
or call 02 6777 3948 or 0429 799 083.
WALCHA
GARDEN
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th
November 2016
Walcha Garden Club
proudly present six beautiful
cool climate gardens
Proceeds go to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and local charities.
BUS COMPANIES / TOUR GROUPS
If required, prior to the event please advise numbers for
catering purposes and your selected garden drop-off point.
Pre-packed lunches are available for $10.00 per person,
and include a sandwich, slice, tea/coffee.
For catering, contact Robyn Lyon at rushbrook2@bigpond.com
(prefered method of contact is email), or call 0428 400 686.
ACCOMMODATION
Please contact Walcha Visitor Information on 02 6774 2460.
1. Wyandra
Approx. 32kms east of Walcha
along the Oxley Highway
2. kanimbla
Approx. 11km from highway
on Sam’s Flat Road
3. wirraway
Approx. 7.5 kms from
Yarrowitch Hall on Wirraway Road
4. springvale
Approx. 4 kms from Yarrowitch Hall
on Springvale Road
5. MIRRABOOKA
Approx. 2 kms from Yarrowitch Hall
on the Upper Yarrowitch River Road
6. rushbrook
Approx 14.5 kms east of the Yarrowitch
Hall along the Oxley Highway
Thunderbolt’sWay
Thunderbolt’sWay
Top Dale Road
StLeonardsCreekRoad
Waughs Road
The Lakes Road
Walcha
Tamworth
Nowendoc
9km
17.7km
6km
4km
4.6km
10km
4km
14km
1
3
25
6
4
Gardens
1. Orandumbie
2. Sallywood
3. Branga Plains Manager's Residence
4. Branga Plains Homestead
5. Prairie Fields
6. Bungara

2. Spend a leisurely weekend exploring beautiful, cool climate, private
gardens to the south of Walcha, in the picturesque New England
region. Grab some morning tea or lunch, relax under a shady tree, or
browse the arts and crafts stalls displaying the talents of Walcha locals.
ENTRY FEE
Single Garden Ticket ............................................................................$4.00
Weekend ‘Garden Pass’ .....................................................................$20.00
Tickets available at all gardens. A Weekend Garden Pass covers entry
into all gardens and is valid for both days.
HOURS
Gardens open from 9.00am until 5.30pm
Please note, only gardens are open, owners homes are private.
LOCATIONS
Follow the map on the back of this brochure and keep an eye out for
the blue and yellow flags and numbers.
REFRESHMENTS & LUNCH
Available at selected gardens.
Sandwich ................................................................................................$5.00
Tea / Coffee / Drink ..............................................................................$2.50
Slice pack ................................................................................................$2.50
KEY
Sandwiches Morning/Afternoon Tea
Plant Stall Water Hazard
Toilets
Alternative toilets – McHattan Park in Fitzroy Street Walcha, or next to
the Nowendoc Community Hall off Thunderbolt's Way.
Please note, children MUST be supervised at all times.
1. Orandumbie
Daniel & Carnie Kermode – 13 The Lakes Road.
“Orandumbie”isoneofWalcha’shistoricproperties,withthehousebeingbuilt
by the Fletcher family in 1863. Its elegant proportions are a testament to the
craftsmanship of a bygone era. Since moving here in 2002 the owners have
re-created some of the cottage gardens after trimming the elm tree lined
driveway. There is an old fashioned rose avenue along the carriageway, an
ancient cork tree (quercus suber), fairy garden, courtyard garden, lovely old
lanterns and the stonework is amazing. After moving the garden fence, the
originaltenniscourtisnowpartofthegardenandissurroundedbyarosemary
hedge and arbour with sweeping views to the Apsley River.
2. Sallywood
Jim & Jules Young – St. Leaonards Creek Road.
The “Sallywood” garden encompasses two hectares of extensive sweeping
lawns and garden beds in a 1,250mm (50”) rainfall region of the Walcha
district. This garden has a wonderful collection of mature exotic and native
trees, of which most were gifts from members of the family dating back to
the 1980’s. Local rock has been used to create garden beds. Plantings include
roses, rhododendrons, camellias and shrubs. A handful of trusted perennials
and bulbs are repeated throughout the garden to give a harmonious effect. Wet
areas of the garden are planted with English bog iris (pseudacorus), day lilies
and Louisiana iris. A spring fed dam, stocked with trout, supplies the garden
with water. A large country garden that will delight any visitor. Well worth
taking a picturesque drive through rolling hills and pastureland to see.
3. BrangaPlains
MANAGER'S RESIDENCE
Keith & Sue Hourigan – 11427 Thunderbolts Way.
Arriving at this garden, visitors will see mature trees including elms, radiata
pines and crab apple trees which were part of the previous home on this site.
The present garden owners have used existing plantings of floribunda roses,
silver birch, buddleia and photinia and various trees and shrubs to create
new or extend garden beds. An opportunity arose a few years ago to extend
the garden on the western side. Garden beds were established and planted
with escallonia, buxus, succulents, grasses, iris and tradescantia (spiderwort).
Furtherinteresthasbeencreatedusinglargepotswhichhavebeenstrategically
placed around the garden. To further compliment the house and garden a
ha-hawallwasbuilttoextendthenortherlyaspectofthegarden.Ameandering
path has linked the old and new garden along with several vantage points for
seating – to sit, ponder and enjoy the surrounds.
4. BrangaPlains
HOMESTEAD
Guy & Suz Lord – 11427 Thunderbolts Way.
Visitors to this garden have the opportunity to see a collection of mature trees
in a beautiful country setting. Spring blossom is a feature of this garden which
includes crab apple trees, aesculus x carnea (red horse chestnut tree) and
various fruit trees. The driveway leads into a small courtyard garden filled with
the florinduna rose ‘bonica’, clipped buxus hedges and a stunning birdbath. On
the northern side of the homestead are rock gardens filled with favourite roses.
A sweeping staircase flows through a bank of colourful perennials including
roses, tradescantia and peonies. A tennis court which overlooks a beautiful
dam, provides wonderful views beyond. Adjacent to the dam is a masterfully
built water feature from enormous rocks sourced on the property.
5. PrairieFields
Max & Julie Ireland – 11008 Thunderbolts Way.
A creative, family friendly garden is set in a small picturesque hidden valley
of undulating pastures. This garden keeps evolving and extending as new
ideas, plants and knowledge comes about. It is referred to as a ‘Friendship
Garden’, as many plants and ideas have come from friends. The use of colours,
shapes, contrasts and texture is used throughout this garden as the owner has
an interest in floral art. There are plantings of mollis azaleas, clematis, roses,
bulbs,berberis,goldenandburgundyphysocarpusalongwithmanydeciduous
trees including birch and maples. Dry stone walls were created using rock
sourced from the property for wide, sweeping beds filled with interesting
shrubs, ground cover plants and perennials for every season. A garden cottage,
“Nanny’s Cubby”, is set in the back garden alongside a tranquil grove of silver
birch, under planted with hellebores and bulbs. Great thought has been given
to artistic placements throughout this colourful garden.
6. Bungara
Neil & Colleen Stackman – 460 Topdale Road.
This garden has evolved since 1988 and has also endured a tornado which
destroyed the owners first home in 2002. Coming from Barrington near
Gloucester, to Niangala with a completely different climate, certainly had
its challenges. Visitors are greeted with a stunning array of hedges including
Tom thumb euonymus (main hedge), English box, hebes, Japanese box,
three varieties of escallonia, nandinas, along with under plantings of snow in
summer,seasidedaisyandcatmint.Robiniamoptoptreesaddtothisstunning
combination.Asunkengardenaccidentallybecameafeatureofthereargarden
when a neighbour was trying to build a dam. Tree ferns on the original site
were given to the owners who in turn planted them in the sunken bank which
became a garden. There two succulent gardens which are solely maintained by
Neil. Out of adversity a garden with great interest has evolved.
Six Gardens