The Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens are a lively and dedicated group formed in 1995 with the aim of promoting and supporting Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in Daylesford. They are a not-for-profit, volunteer organisation whose purpose is to work for the benefit of the Botanic Gardens, to raise money for its ongoing maintenance and development and to bring like-minded people together to share these projects.
Their current work is focussed on upgrading The Fernery as the next stage in a long-running beautification plan, the project called Enhancing the Visitor Experience at Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
Gillie Gough, (The Friends President) said “The Fernery Cascade and the 1880s carriage drive are the primary surviving features by prominent 19th-century designer William Sangster. The 2017 Master Plan builds on these historic elements by introducing new path connections to improve access and to encourage greater use of The Fernery.”
The Day Basin and the adjacent Pioneer Memorial Tower will be visually and physically linked through decorative planting beds and the redesign of the upper car park to reduce its visual impact and will create for visitors a more sympathetic arrival sequence. The Master Plan restores the Tower’s original relationship with the reservoir by re-establishing a strong axial path between the two spaces, defined by a series of parterres.
Paul Murray and Geoff Kerins digging out the cascade and pond in preparation for new filter and pump.
Denise Robinson (The Friends Secretary) said “The Master Plan adds new path connections to The Fernery”. From the original 19th-century cascade, the rill will continue downhill through a fern gully and crossing path system before discharging into a series of stone cascades reminiscent of the Franklin Springs. These cascades will form a strong design statement at the main entrance to Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
The proposed works in the Fern Gully will be fully funded by the Friends of the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens – estimated at just under $15,000.00 which includes the new ferns re-introduced into the gully and ground works completed. Hopefully it will be complete by autumn this year.
