About Our Gardens

Outside the Chalet Totterdell, which is now used as an administration building.

It is not known what the oldest planted tree is Araluen as many were planted in c1927.

We suspect the three oldest trees are the Eucalyptus pattens (Bluckbutt) in the concourse lawns, next to the Margaret Simons Pergola, the Blackbutt in the centre of the Grove of the Unforgotten, and the large Jarrah near the Lookout.

Between August and October each year.

Yes – see the downloadable list.

All across the Park. Several of the Ash (Fraxinus) which are generally the first to colour significantly with deep gold leaves.

These are closely followed by the Canadian Maples – Acer rubrum, Acer x freemanii whose bright red cultivars are found from the Entry verge and throughout the Park. Also in the Entry are the bright gold Tulip Trees (Liriodendron) and the red-toned Snowy Mespillus (Amelanchier) and then the large maples in the Entry Carpark.

From mid April to May

Look for the Chinese Pistachio, Pistachio chinensis which are found from the top of Brisbane Hill across to the Lake below Forest View; persimmons, Diospyros kaki, at the top of Lilac Hill; crepe myrtles, Lagerstroemia sp, and various ornamental plums and cherries, Prunus, and ornamental pears, Pyrus, throughout the Park

By mid-May Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum with many cultivars may be seen throughout the Park but especially on the verge below the Entry Cark, around the Margaret Simons Pergola, the adjacent lower level of Brisbane Hill, around the Log Cabin, and below Forest View as many of the younger trees are now becoming established.

The most impressive display comes from the various liquidambers, mostly around the Concourse. These are large trees dating from the early years of Araluen. One by the Margaret Simons Pergola has a plaque indicating it was planted in 1938.

Araluen has many varieties of roses in the Park, some that date back to the 1900’s. There is a huge variety of roses at Araluen. Near the ‘Grove of the Unforgotten’, there is a bed of the original 1930’s roses complemented with beds of Iceberg, Gruss an Aachen and Rugosas

The roses are planted in an Australian bushland setting, amongst native vegetation of jarrah, marri and grass trees, rather than as a formal rose garden. This is one of the reasons it is so unique.

Near the Roundhouse, the Felicias and Seafoam roses look spectacular. By the Chalet Healy cafe, a bed of David Austin Roses, together with many famous old heritage roses, are at their best in Spring. The bright yellow of ‘R.foetida’, an older species of rose, stands out. Kazanlik, a rose famous in the perfume industry, are here as well. The Moss roses, with their unusual and fragrant sepals, provide added interest.