Eungella

Eungella is a young, two-hectare garden located on the outskirts of Mount Dandenong’s highest village, Olinda. It combines native plants and naturalistic water features against the dramatic backdrop of regrowth mountain ash on two sides and the National Rhododendron Gardens across the road.

Eungella, meaning ‘place in the clouds’, is the garden of Professor Jan Coles and Dr Andrew Watkins, two self-described greenies. The garden provides habitat for many native animals, including owls, lyrebirds, frogs, native bees, butterflies, wallabies, and wombats.

“The on-going garden development is guided by sustainability and the need to provide a home for rare and endangered plants, including a collection of cool climate and sub-alpine plants that are not usually seen in private gardens,” says Jan.

The garden has several distinct areas to explore, including a native garden with a small stream that leads to a reflective pond and rock pool, designed and constructed by Phillip Johnson Landscapes. Phillip also created the five-year-old Snow Gum Walk, featuring 21 stunning gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora).

Over 70 different fruit varieties are grown in two extensive orchards, including heritage apples, pears, quinces, apricots, nectarines, and plums. These adjoin a large vegetable garden. In contrast, there is a broad grassed area with specimen trees and, at the bottom of the block, a wild garden where old camellias, chestnuts, and walnuts provide the foreground to the regrowth forest.

Tickets are available online via TryBooking: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1263765

Eungella is located on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. Open Gardens Victoria wish to acknowledge the Traditional custodians of this land and we pay respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.