Plants of Karwarra No. 4
Marilyn Gray
Karwarra Garden, Kalorama

A Potted History of Karwarra Garden

The history of Karwarra Garden is relatively short as the garden was established in the late 60's. However there are 3 distinct phases in its development.

While Karwarra Garden may only be about 35 years old, the history of the site begins in 1853 when it was first surveyed. Thomas Hand, the Shire Engineer for the Shire of Lilydale, selected a 23 acre allotment in the area encompassing Karwarra Garden sometime between 1861 and 1870 and six acres had been cleared by 1871. By 1877 he had a lease of 306 acres and the family was living in a bark hut on the site. They moved into their homestead, 'Mountain Grange' in 1881, located approximately on the site of our Horticultural Hall. A 12,000 gallon well was constructed to provide water. The capping is still visible behind the information area. Orchards on the land failed because the "mountain soil favours tree growth at the expense of quality of fruit." A small herd of dairy cattle replaced the orchards and plantations of raspberries were established. Nothing was really successful. In 1939 son Will Hand sold some of the land to Shire of Lilydale (probably the Reserve next door which was already used as the local cricket ground) and left the area. Further subdivisions, including the 2 blocks which comprise Karwarra Garden, occurred until the end of World War II.

The late May Moon, founder of Save the Dandenongs League, was the driving force behind the push for a truly Australian garden on Mt. Dandenong. She and other members of the Mt. Dandenong Horticultural Society began lobbying the Shire of Lilydale in 1960 for a suitable site. In 1965 the current site was purchased and leased to the Society. It was covered in blackberries and other weeds, a legacy from the years of failed farming. By 1968 enthusiastic Society members had cleared half the site, erected the fence and begun planting.

Stage One
The original concept and design was donated to the Horticultural Society in the late '60's by the well known landscape expert Ellis Stones. Only part was actually implemented. His layout was based on perimeter plantings of trees and shrubs and large lawns in front of the Hall and to the front right hand side. A children's area with a shallow pool would separate these lawns and a specimen tree would be planted near by. (This tree may have been Eucryphia lucida as it was moved from the lawn to its present location.) Two areas below the children's area were to be rocky outcrops. One of these areas was established and while most of the plants have been replaced the rockwork is still a major part of this garden bed. A grassy slope below the rockery lead to the perimeter planting along Mt. Dandenong Tourist Rd.

During 1971 the first stage of Karwarra Hall, the home of the Mt. Dandenong Horticultural Society, was completed and the garden officially opened. The Hall and Garden were sited to take advantage of the views across Silvan Dam to the hills beyond.

Ellis Stones included an internal driveway. A small office would be built near the front gate, beside the fence. Beyond this would be the plant sales area, open air stalls and parking. It was envisaged that other open air stalls would be scattered around the main building. The rest of Karwarra would remain as natural forest.

Garden beds established during this period were bounded by timber edging. Weed suppression was in the form of black plastic covered by shavings. We still uncover remnants of this plastic in some of the garden beds. The fern gully and lower group of NSW Waratahs were planted towards the end of this period, in 1976.

Stage Two
In 1978 Kath Deery offered to assist the Horticultural Society with the landscaping of Karwarra Garden. Her offer was accepted and she immediately commenced work on an imaginative concept for the garden. She created an intricate series of ponds leading visually to Silvan Dam below. Her hallmark was meandering pathways amongst raised garden beds and the use of combinations of plants to provide year round pictures in flower, foliage and form. Rocks and logs form an intrinsic part of her landscape. A down side for us today is the legacy of narrow paths, inhibiting easy movement. Kath liked the feeling of being enclosed by the plantings as you moved through the Garden.

Kath began her work in front of the Horticultural Hall. Each area was completed in stages - string lines were laid out to delineate garden beds, pathways cut to provide soil for raised beds, ponds dug and lined with concrete. Rocks and logs were placed into the soil. Planting followed the soil preparation and the whole area was then mulched. Meanwhile photos show the grass in the next area to be landscaped already dying. Almost every one of the estimated 5,000 plants used were donated by enthusiasts and local nurserymen. Many plants were removed from Kath's own garden and replanted at Karwarra including some very large specimens of Scleranthus biflorus beside the top ponds. By 1984, when she completed her work, Kath had planted more than 1,300 species.

Plants were kept low in front of the building to maintain the view of Silvan Dam. Unfortunately the placement of a group of Angophora hispida has now partially blocked this view. Several Acacia cognata specimens planted at the bottom of the garden during stage one have also impinged on the view. The depth of soil combined with extra sun at that time allowed Western Australian plants to prosper. Keith Alcock, a member of Australian Plants Society and the Banksia and Dryandra Study Groups, donated a wide range of species from these and related genera, a few of which still remain.

In 1983 the first Garden Advisory Committee was set up. One of the priorities of the management plan written 2 years later was the appointment of a full time landscape designer to oversee the maintenance and continued development of Karwarra. They also wanted to ensure that Kath's style was maintained. Monthly working bees by the Horticultural Society attempted the daunting task of maintaining a fast maturing garden after Kath left.

Stage three
The Shire of Lilydale decided to support Karwarra Garden and, in July 1989, resumed the lease to Karwarra and appointed John Knight as full time curator. This was the beginning of the third developmental stage. A new Advisory Committee was established to direct the long term development of the garden, advise and support the staff and make recommendations to council regarding capital projects. Again the style of garden created by Kath Deery was to be maintained. Staffing was increased in 1992 with the appointment of an apprentice.

An inventory taken soon after John's arrival showed that nearly half of the original species planted had been lost. Plant selection took on a new direction with species that do well in the forested mountain environment of Karwarra Garden chosen. Theme gardens were developed. These include the rainforest areas which are being incorporated into the perimeter plantings, joining with a Cool Temperate Rainforest above the fernery. A Tasmanian garden was developed, ponds at their base providing soil for the built up bed and allowing a display of water plants.

It was decided that Karwarra should specialise in particular genera. The Rutaceae family was already well established and performing well as were the waratahs. The collections of Boronia (Rutaceae family) and Telopea (Proteaceae family) were registered with the Ornamental Plant Conservation Association of Australia. Other collections being developed include Lomatia (all species have been represented), Pomaderris, Spyridium, the Sterculiaceae family (including Thomasia, Lasiopetalum, Guichenotia) and Fabaceae (pea) family. Collections of other genera of the Rutaceae family (especially Correa, Crowea, Zieria, Phebalium, Leionema, Nematolepis, Eriostemon & Philotheca) have also been expanded. Many of these plants are unknown to the general public, giving us a splendid opportunity to introduce new plants to visitors. John's interest in the indigenous flora saw a renewed interest in our local plants with specific areas re-established. Part of this area has been subsequently developed as a grassland to display the many local grasses and herbs. A controlled fire through part of this area in 2002 is designed to regenerate some of the herbs currently overwhelmed by Purple-sheath Tussock Grass (Poa ensiformis).

More recently garden beds have been developed outside the garden to attract the public. The first project was to beautify the fence line and adjoining carpark using colourful shrubs and trees. The lower end featured indigenous plants to combine with a section of bushland opposite. A picture garden has been planted along the main road near the entrance. The aim was to use flowers and foliage to provide colour all year to the passing traffic. Plants had to be reliable without watering and were severely tested in their first summer. Minimal replanting has been necessary.

A gatehouse was erected near the nursery and opened in April 2000. This has provided a focus for visitors and an office for the Manager. The new situation by what was the back gate has provided the opportunity for substantial redevelopment in this area. Old plant material has been removed and colourful cottage gardens have been planted. Some of the larger indigenous plants previously established at the back gate have been removed to provide a colourful display of smaller shrubs.

Changes continue to happen as the focus of areas change. The lookout, built in 1998, has become a popular site for weddings. This has led to levelling and gravelling of an area in front of it for guests and a flower bed to beautify the base.

Rejuvenation is a constant requirement in a mature garden and this continues as resources are available. The fern gully and the 2 pond systems are the next areas to have substantial work begun. During 2004 and 2005 an Aboriginal Plant Usage Garden will be established to demonstrate the wide variety of plants used by the local Wurundjeri and other aboriginal tribes as they lived off the land. This will include not only food but medicines and tools.

While there is still room for development at Karwarra Garden, design will continue along the style laid down by Kath Deery. Plants which complement each other will continue to be used but they will be selected according to their suitability to the environment. New species belonging to collections will be sourced. There is now a preference for provenanced material where possible. The emphasis is on providing a botanical garden with a strong educational facility to encourage students to learn about and research Australian plants and to provide visitors and gardeners with examples of the wide diversity of Australian plants, and their use in the home garden.