Melrose 2023

Saturday 18 November, 2023 to
Sunday 19 November, 2023

Strictly only opening on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 November. Please respect the garden owners' privacy and visit only during opening hours.

10.00am - 4.30pm

The first five images (below the top image) taken by photographer: Simon Griffiths.

Entry: $10 Adults/$6 Students (with ID card) /Under 18 free

  • Tickets can be booked and pre-paid online via TryBooking. You can also pay on the day.
  • Sustainable practices are important to OGV, therefore where possible please either print your own garden notes or save them for viewing on your mobile device.

Booking via Trybooking

Garden Notes

If you’re a tertiary student, why not purchase our OGV Student Pass, providing you with entry to all our garden openings for the year for just $25. Find out more and purchase your pass via TryBooking

Become a Friend of OGV and receive two x 2 for the price of 1 garden passes, plus a one off 10% discount to some of Victoria's best garden centres via Trybooking.

Please stay at home if you're unwell


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Melrose featured on Gardening Australia and Better Homes & Gardens as well as in The Age, The Weekend Australian Magazine, Green Magazine and books by lifestyle photographer and writer Simon Griffiths. 

Melrose has been described as “an enchanting space that blurs the line between the productive and purely ornamental” (Megan Backhouse, The Age), a “gardeners’ garden” (Jason Hodges, Better Homes & Gardens), “a fantastically productive garden that is literally overflowing with life” (Simon Griffiths, Garden Love) and as having a “wonderful choice of plants” (Jane Edmondson, Gardening Australia). 

It has been observed that it is hard to say what kind of garden Melrose is - it cannot readily be categorised.  There is a strong Mediterranean theme, dry climate plantings, elements of cottage gardens, an extensive use of productive plants in an ornamental context and a mix of formality and informality.  The aim was to create beauty and abundance. 

Visitor descriptions include “wild chic” “the most magical garden ever” “a place to ignite the creative in us all” “divine eclectic planting, winding paths, a new discovery around every corner’ “a great lesson in overcoming harsh conditions with a Mediterranean palette of plants” “beyond magical”.

Melrose has been open to the public on several occasions over a number of years including through Rotary Garden Designfest (featuring gardens designed by professional designers) and Open Gardens Victoria.  The owners expect this to be the last public opening.  A theme explored this year in the garden notes is the evolving nature of the garden.

Please note: There will be a limited number of garden products available on the day including cloches, potting tables and the last French-style table. Orders can be taken on the day (for later pick up Malmsbury) or pre-orders through DM on the Potager Designs Instagram to secure a piece to take home while visiting.

Janae and Chris from Fleurs de Lyonville will be selling beautiful seasonal flowers grown at their micro flower farm in Lyonville on Saturday 18th November and Tabatha from Botanical Treasures will have plants for sale on the Sunday 19th November.

NOTE: toilets are located one block away at The Malmsbury Botanic Gardens.

Parking is on main street (one block to North), or at Botanic Gardens (one block to the West of the garden). Wheelchair access if very limited because there are small access paths and steps throughout the garden.

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

Extra Activities in the Area:

Garden Notes

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Click on images to enlarge




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