Shipway Lodge
Greenwood Avenue, Sorrento
Saturday 15 February, 2020 to
Sunday 16 February, 2020
One of four open gardens this weekend:
10.00am - 4.30pm
Visit all four open gardens: $30
These can be purchased at each gate OR through TryBooking (see link below)
Tickets are also available for purchase at each gate for individual gardens:
Shipway Lodge $10; other gardens $8;
all gardens Under 18 free
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This historic property on two acres has been in the same family’s ownership dating back to 1909.
Over time, features such as horse paddocks and stables and excess pine trees have been cleared, a tennis court has been relocated, and another residence has been built for family. The original Sorrento limestone buildings which were maids’ quarters and gardener’s cottage have been extended and repurposed (caretaker’s cottage) and bring enormous charm to this property and garden today.
Now walled, the vegetable garden to this day remains in the same place as its original location, where it is used to provide cut flowers, herbs and vegetables for three families. Roses cover the walls and planter boxes for herbs descend next to the back patio steps leading to a southern terrace.
In 1988, the late David Wilkinson positioned the pond, the mixed borders and the change of level from the house to the top lawn where a giant Monterey Cypress stands. There are long, deep mixed perennial borders and a large golden elm to provide colour and shade.
In the owners’ words, Shipway Lodge altogether achieves that most difficult aim of all dedicated gardeners: ‘an uncontrived sort of tidiness combined with natural chaos’.
Other activities and places of interest in the local area include:
- Portsea Hotel and local shops and cafes
- Shopping in Ocean Beach Road, Sorrento
- Searoad Ferry – Queenscliff to Sorrento
- Portsea and Sorrento – front and back beaches
- Sorrento Museum
- Visit Point Nepean National Park
For the other three gardens openings this weekend through Open Gardens Victoria; see:
Information and advice on garden visiting
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