Werribee Rose Gardens, Mansion, and Estate
Werribee Park - Mansion and Rose Gardens
* Official web site * K Road (Gate 2) * Werribee * Victoria, Australia * 3030 * Telephone: 13 1963 * Email: bookingswerribee@parks.vic.gov.au *
Disatisfied with our beach trip, we wandered over to Werribee Park - and while caught an hour or so of wandering around in the beautiful rose gardens, did not get to cover the mansion and other parts of the park. Highly recommend showing up early for this place not towards the end of the day. This is a site where one can get a grasp of Australia’s pastoral empire by walking amongst Victorian era Italianate-style architecture surrounded by exquisite formal gardens including a spectacular rose garden and open space park lands. The site is a hidden haven for picnickers, garden enthusiasts, botanists, and history buffs. The park consists of a historical mansion in Werribee just outside of Melbourne. It hosts the mansion, the Victorian State Rose Gardens, formal gardens, the Werribee Park National Equestrian Center, the Open Range Zoo, and a comtemporary sculpture walk along the Werribee River. The Mansion is home to a hotel and conference center. Owned and operated by the Victorian government since 1973, the park has become a popular tourist spot since the late 70′s. It was first built in 1874 by Andrew and Thomas Chirnside with an Italian architectural style influencing a large farm. After Thomas committed suicide in the 1890′s, the property was passed on to George who built the Manor. From 1923 until 1973 it operated as a Catholic seminary as “Corpus Christi College”. By 1996 it became a popular backdrop for the English television series “The Genie From Down Under” as well as for an American film called “The Pirate Movie” and the 1976 film “The Devil’s Playground”. The Rose Gardens are grouped into 4 sections - opening first in 1986 in the shape of a Tudor rose with 5 petals with over 252 different roses from around the world. Admission to the gardens are free. The orchard was establised in the 1870′s and renown for its peaches, apples, quinces, pears, grapes, plums, walnuts, and olives. Rating 3 stars out of 5 - visited 4/17/2011.
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