Upgrades underway on Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens

The Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in Daylesford, Victoria is undergoing upgrades to protect the gardens’ 19th century heritage while ensuring it is equipped with modern facilities to meet the needs of locals and visitors.

Daylesford is a spa town located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range, within the Shire of Hepburn, Victoria, Australia

The gardens upgrade project is being supported by a $500,000 grant through the Victoria Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund – Stimulus Round in partnership with Hepburn Shire Council and Friends of Wombat Botanic Gardens.

The project is on track for completion at the end of this year and is a key part of the Hepburn Shire Council’s Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Landscape Master Plan.

The heritage-listed gardens have been a staple of Daylesford’s attractions for more than 150 years and were developed during Victoria’s Gold Rush. They now attract thousands of visitors to the town each year.

The gardens’ day basin, which historically served as Daylesford’s town reservoir, will be transformed into an eye-catching water feature as part of the project.

The works will also deliver better access to the gardens through improved pathways, with recently installed stone steps inviting visitors to explore all areas of the gardens including a fernery space.

Glass refurbishments to the Alf Headland Conservatory which is located at the west end of the gardens will allow all-year-round seasonal displays of plants, in addition to the stunning begonia flowers that are a key tourist attraction at the gardens.

Blooming from January to March, begonias are both challenging to grow and rare to find, making the displays at Wombat Hill an exciting reason to visit regional Victoria.

The heritage 1930s art deco toilets will also receive a makeover to modernise the amenities and provide all abilities access.

Meanwhile, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria took home gold for Major Tourist Attraction at the recently held 2021 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. 

Image top: Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens Credit Discover Daylesford; Image above Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria representatives with their gold award for Major Tourist Attraction.

Information and guidelines for the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund can be found at rdv.vic.gov.au/rjif