Did you know that Pirianda Gardens was once a private home? Now, it is a treasured woodland garden open to everyone. Let’s explore this unique place.
Pirianda Gardens is a beautiful spot. It has many botanically significant trees. Some are considered rare in Australia. Unusual trees and shrubs blend with ferns. Blackwoods and Mountain Ash provide shade. As you walk, you’ll find terraces and a peaceful fern gully.
The gardens are designed to use the steep slopes. Terraces combine trees, shrubs, and perennials. Large blackwoods and mountain ash tower above natural fern gullies in Pirianda.
Autumn is a particularly beautiful time here. The trees change color. You’ll see many hues of orange, red, and yellow. Enjoy views, walks, bird watching, photography, and picnics on the lawns at Pirianda Gardens.
Harvey and Gillian Ansell bought Pirianda in 1959. It was 23 acres then. They added 5 acres later. The Ansell family cleared bracken and blackberries. They wanted to create a garden. They aimed for a balance. Exotic plants mixed with beautiful native rainforest species.
The Ansells traveled overseas each year. They sought new and unusual plants. They imported them and displayed them at Pirianda. The Aboriginal word “Pirianda” means “sufficient” or “enough”.
Pirianda Garden was donated to Victoria in 1977. Parks Victoria began managing it in 1995. The garden now spans 11 hectares.
As you enter Pirianda Gardens, you’ll pass a grassy area. It has northern hemisphere trees. These are rarely cultivated in Australia. Below the top terrace is a bog garden. It leads past terraced walls. These were built from local stone. At the garden’s base, you find a fern gully. Blackwoods and Soft and Rough Tree Ferns dominate. This provides shade in summer.
Pirianda Garden features 28 types of maples. There are also 13 birch varieties. You can also see collections of magnolias, eucryphias, and rhododendrons. Look out for the Chinese Handkerchief Tree. It flowers in early November. Its large, white bracts wave in the wind. It is quite a sight.
Other unusual plants include Franklinia and Stewartia. Both have delicate flowers. They are related to camellias. Pirianda Garden is known for its autumn colors. It also has fine tree collections.
Spring brings rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias. Summer showcases Mock Orange, Eucryphia, and Hydrangeas. Autumn offers spectacular foliage colors. You might even see Franklinia alatamaha flowering on leafless branches. In winter, look for Luculia, Witch Hazel, and early rhododendrons.
Pirianda is a bit of a secret gem. It was donated to the State of Victoria by Harvey and Gillian Ansell in 1977. It is tucked away on a side street.
The garden is like three sections. The top third is grassy. It has birches and maples. The middle section has stone-walled terraces. The bottom has fern glades. They are mystical with moss. There is also a tiny creek and bridge.
Each season offers something different. In autumn, the deciduous trees are the main attraction. Winter brings hellebores and the fern glades to life. Spring highlights rhododendrons. In early summer, hydrangeas bloom.
Even frequent visitors find new details at Pirianda. It is a place to return to in different seasons. You will always see interesting plants and trees.
Remember to access Hacketts Road from Olinda-Monbulk Road only. The other access is steep and for 4WD vehicles only. Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash at Pirianda Gardens.