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Launching Sale Botanic Gardens Master Plan

On 26 October Wellington Shire Council and the Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens will launch a Master Plan to bring a new lease of life to these historic Gardens and to maximise their potential as a major heritage asset.

By Wellington Shire Council - 21st October 2003 - Back to News

The event is being held at another significant site in the horticultural history of the area - Holey Plains State Park near Rosedale.

Attending, along with the Council’s Chief Executive Officer Lyndon Webb and the Friends’ convener Joanne Bourke, is Dr. James Will - an eminent horticulturalist and senior lecturer at Melbourne University, who will speak on the history of Rose and plant breeding.

Dating from the 1870’s, the Sale Botanic Gardens are the only ones still in existence in Victoria, east of Melbourne. Bordering Lake Guthridge and originally covering 20 hectares, today they span approximately 3.5 hectares. They have experienced encroachments over the decades, with part of the area used as a golf course for some 30 years, the construction of various sporting facilities including a swimming complex, and development of a fauna park. However original features including specimen trees planted 130 years ago and the landscaping grounds still remain.

The local community’s awareness of the site’s significance has increased since the opening of the popular Council-sponsored sensory gardens by the Friends of Sale Botanic Gardens in 2001.

The Master Plan, which follows extensive public consultation, has been developed by Council staff working closely with the Sale Historical Society, local landscape designers and a team of specialist landscape architects from Melbourne.

The aim is to maximise the Gardens’ potential as a major heritage and environmental asset for the local community, and as a tourist attraction for the area. The intention is to provide a fascinating insight into the original magnificence of the site, and to encourage greater use of the Gardens by the community and tourists as a place to relax and unwind.

Wellington is also looking to the State Government to include the Botanic Gardens in the Victorian Heritage List, which would help safeguard their long- term future and protect them from inappropriate development.

Meanwhile, the public are welcome to attend the Master Plan launch and talk at Holey Plains State Park. Tickets are $20.00 (cash only) and bookings are essential. For more information please contact Joanne Bourke on 5149 2457.

Said Wellington’s Mayor John Jago: "This marks an exciting new beginning for the Sale Botanic Gardens. For far too long they have been under-used and largely forgotten, which is sad as they are in a prime location for the Sale community and represent an important part of our local heritage and history. It will great to see what remains of the site rejuvenated and restored to become a relaxing haven for the Sale community and a tourist attraction for the area."

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com



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