A project to bring sculpture and contemplation to the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens is proposed by the Garden’s Friends.
When the towering Sequoia at Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens fell five years ago, it marked the end of a remarkable life—a tree that had stood sentinel over the gardens for 150 to 160 years. But rather than letting its legacy fade, the gardens have embarked on a project that transforms the fallen giant into a living memorial through art, craft, and community stewardship.
The Garden of Views—a modified version of an earlier master plan recommendation—will create a sequence of sculptural seating areas in the gardens’ southeast corner, designed as quiet spots for reflection while honouring the old Sequoia. And at the heart of the project is timber rescued from the tree itself, now reimagined by acclaimed local sculptor Miriam Porter.
Porter, known locally for her wombat and nest sculptures installed throughout the gardens, has crafted two substantial wooden benches—each 4 metres long—from the Sequoia timber, along with five oversized pinecone sculptures. The benches will be strategically positioned near the tree’s stump: one facing east to catch the early morning sun, the other oriented west for afternoon light. The pinecone sculptures will be arranged in a small “copse” below, creating an intentional composition of form and sight lines.
“What we’re creating here is a place of quiet contemplation,” the proposal notes, and the careful planning reflects that intention. Each bench will be set in concrete and anchored to maintain structural integrity on the sloped site. Stone walls crafted by local stonemason Charles Millen—who recently completed work on the gardens’ Fernery project—will frame the seating areas, each wall kept low (under 1 metre) to respect the gardens’ heritage character.
The project hinges on several approvals still in progress. The gardens await confirmation from the Shire and an exemption permit from Heritage Victoria. Weather conditions will also play a role: the heavy timber pieces and concrete work require conditions solid enough to support cranes and construction equipment—a detail that may push construction into spring.
Once work begins, landscaping and construction should take no more than a month to complete.
For gardeners and locals who’ve watched the Sequoia’s absence for five years, the Garden of Views represents something meaningful: the chance to sit where a giant once stood, to see the gardens through its remains, and to witness how a community honours both history and creativity.
