On Thursday 21st October, a most beautiful spring morning, we set off for Mount Macedon, to visit ‘Tieve Tara’. The garden was once part of a much larger property in 1854 called Christian’s Orchard. Twice since the house has been destroyed by fire and re-built. The major top section of the garden survived the fires, however several large trees bordering the creek were lost. After the 1983 fires the bottom lake was installed, and more flowerbeds added to the top garden.
The current owners, Judith and John Brand, enlarged the bottom lake and added the top lake, included many new beds and a Treasure Island children’s playground down near the lake. Being spring, the gardens were a mass of blossom, rhododendrons’, azaleas and bulbs in a riot of different colours. We spent two hours wandering around the garden exploring and admiring the various garden areas.
Next it was on to lunch at the Top of the Range tearooms at Macedon Regional Park, where we enjoyed a delicious two-course lunch. We then had time for a stroll out to the 21 meter high War Memorial Cross, which was erected in the 1930’s to commemorate those who died in the First World War. Unfortunately, it was a bit hazy, and we could only just make out the buildings of the city in the distance.
Before long Hayden called us all on to the bus for our return trip to Melbourne. Thank-you to Karina and Pam for organizing such a great day out.
